Motorway 5 (Greece)

A5 motorway
Αυτοκινητόδρομος 5
Ionia Odos / Ιονία Οδός
Route information
Part of E55
Ionia Odos
Length:	196 km (122 mi)
North end:	Kakabia
South end:	Tsakona interchange: to Kalamata
Location
Regions:	Epirus, West Greece, Peloponnese
Major cities:	Ioannina, Arta, Agrinio, Patras, Pyrgos, Kalamata
Highway system
Motorways in Greece

The Greek Motorway 5 (Greek: Αυτοκινητόδρομος 5; code: A5) is a motorway in Greece, partially still under construction. Upon completion, the motorway will be the second major north-south road connection in Motorway 1. It will also be part of the trans-balkanic Adriatic–Ionian motorway and the European routes E55 and E951.

The motorway's main section, commonly referred to as Ionia Odos (Greek: Ιονία Οδός), starts at Kakabia and it follows the western coastline of mainland Greece down to the Gulf of Corinth. At Rio, it crosses the gulf via the Rio–Antirrio bridge.

The southern section, commonly referred to as Olympia Odos (Greek: Ολυμπία Οδός), is fully located on the Peloponnese, attaching to the northern section at an interchange with the A8 Motorway near Patras and following the western coastline of the peninsula further down to Pyrgos. As of 2015, it is yet unknown if the future Patras - Pyrgos motorway will be part of the A5.

With the bypasses of Patras, Arta and Agrinio and the Rio–Antirrio bridge being completed by 2002, 2003 and 2009 respectively, the main section between Kakabia and Rio is expected to be put into operation by mid 2017. However, several sections might be put into operation earlier, probably with only one carriageway, until the other one is completed.

Ionia Odos

Ionia Odos (southbound direction), just after the Kouvaras interchange

Antirrio Toll station on the A5

Rio–Antirrio bridge over the Gulf of Corinth

Rio–Antirrio bridge

Construction of the Rio–Antirrio bridge, the world's longest fully suspended cable-stayed bridge, began in 1998, more than 100 years after a first proposal by then-prime minister Charilaos Trikoupis. The bridge was inaugurated on 7 August 2004, a week before the opening of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Agrinio and Arta bypasses

With a length of 33km, the Agrinio bypass was the first major segment of the northern A5 section to be completed. While construction had begun in 2002/03, it was fully put into service in May 2009. Starting from Aitoliko, the road bypasses the largest city and economical center of the Aetolia-Acarnania prefecture, Agrinio and ends in Kouvaras. It largely replaced the 12km longer National Road 5. In July 28 2015, a 4,5km segment before the Aitoliko interchange became operational. This segment features the Ioannina-Antirrio carriageway, with the Antirrio-Ioannina carriageway being under construction.

The 17km Arta bypass begins from Sellades near Arta and ends at Filippiada, near the border with the prefecture of Preveza. Its first part (Arta north interchange - Filippiada was opened in 2003 and the second part (Sellades/Arta south interchange - Arta north interchange) was opened in April 2011, with the bridge of the Arta north interchange being inaugurated on 22 November 2013.

Nea Odos consortium

In late 2006, construction and maintenance of the motorway's northern, Ionia Odos, section from the Albanian border to the Rio intersection has been granted to the Greek-Spanish "Nea Odos" consortium, which is also responsible for the maintenance of the Athens–Skarfeia (near Lamia) section of the A1 Motorway. The consortium, consisting of construction firms GEK Group of Companies SA, Terna SA, Cintra SA, and Grupo ACS, will build and operate the road, receiving toll fees for 30 years, while investing a combined €1.15 billion in the project. The rest of the total €1.4 billion funds will be provided by the European Union and the Greek government. Construction, undertaken by the Euroionia Joint Venture (Terna SA, Dragados SA and Ferrovial SA) finally started in 2008 with a completion date of 72 months.^[1] The bill was ratified on March 28, 2007.^[2]

In 2010, it was expected that the full length of the motorway would be completed by the end of 2013.^[3][4] However, the consortium's economical problems led to the construction being stopped in 2011. Construction works have been resumed by April 2013, but the slow progress of expropriations, archaeological investigations, lawsuits and environmental issues led to further significant delays. Currently, the remaining parts are expected to be finished by summer 2017.

Exit list

The exits of the northern, Ionia Odos, section of the A5 motorway:^[5]

Regional unit	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Ioannina	18	Ioannina interchange	to Igoumenitsa, Thessaloniki
	17	Avgo
Preveza	16	Gorgomylos
	15	Filippiada/Preveza
Arta	14	Arta north
	13	Arta south
Aetolia-Acarnania	12	Menidi
	11	Amfilochia
	10	Amvrakia interchange	to Aktio
	9	Kouvaras
	8	Rigani
	7	Angelokastro
	6	Aitoliko
	5	Messolonghi
	4	Evinochori
	3	Klokova / Riza
	2	Antirrio	, ferry to Rio
Achaea	1	Rio-Port	, ferry to Antirrio
		Rio interchange	to Athens

Olympia Odos

Patras bypass

The Patras bypass was the first segment of the southern, Olympia Odos S.A, section that was put into service. Planning of the bypass began in the 1980s, but construction did not begin until the 1990s. It passes east of the city, through the foothills of the Panachaiko mountain, and consists of several tunnels and bridges. In October 2002, the bypass was opened to traffic. As a result, traffic in downtown Patras has significantly decreased.

Largely following the course of National Road 9, the Patras bypass in early years was signposted as part of a new, separate Motorway 9. Later it was reassigned to the then-planned trans-Peloponnese Motorway 8, before it was considered a part of the Adriatic–Ionian Motorway 5.

Signage of the Patras bypass
Old road sign depicting Patras-Paralia exit as part of a new Motorway 9 in 2006  Old road sign depicting Patras-Mintologli exit as part of Motorway 8 in 2011  New road sign depicting Patras-Paralia exit as part of Motorway A5 in 2011

Olympia Odos S.A consortium

Construction and maintenance of the motorway's southern Olympia Odos section between the Rio and Tsakona interchanges has been mandated to the "Olympia Odos" consortium which is also built the A8 Motorway.

Exit list

View of the Patras bypass.

The exits of the southern, Olympia Odos, section of the A5 motorway:^[5]

Regional unit	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Achaea		Rio interchange	to Athens
	Patras A	Patras East interchange
	Patras B	Eglykada
	Patras C	Glafkos interchange	to Port of Patras
	Patras D	Ovrya
		Paralia
		Patras West
		Patras Industrial Area
		Kato Achaia
		Kareika
Elis		Varda
		Lechaina
		Gastouni
		Amaliada
		Chanakia
		Pyrgos north
		Pyrgos East interchange	, future
		Alfeios
		Anemochori
		Samiko
		Zacharo
		Giannitsochori/Figaleia
Messenia		Kalo Nero/Kyparissia
		Dorio
		Zevgolateio
		Tsakona interchange	to Kalamata, Corinth

See also

• Highways in Greece

References