Egnatia Odos (modern road)

Template: Infobox trunk road / Maintenance / GR -A

Periferies (regions):

Epirus
West Macedonia
Central Macedonia
East Macedonia and Thrace

The Aftokinitodromos 2/Αυτοκινητόδρομος 2 (Greek for, highway 2 ') in Greece, the most important road link and the first highway in northern Greece from west to east. At the same time, it is the largest infrastructure project in modern Greece. Officially it is referred to as Egnatia Odos (Greek Εγνατία Οδός, " Via Egnatia " ), which dates back to the Roman Via Egnatia. The entire A2 is also part of the European Route 90 (E90 ).

2.1 Client
2.2 Increasing level
2.3 Construction costs
2.4 Toll requirement

3.1 street
3.2 Air Traffic
3.3 ship traffic ( ports )

Course

The Highway 2 (A2 ) connects the port of Igoumenitsa in the Ionian Sea to the west of Greece ( Epirus region ) with the Turkish border ( Western Thrace region ) in the east. It was completed on July 7, 2009 with the opening to traffic of the tunnel Tyria and Agios Kostadinos. The total length is 670 km. It is the longest motorway in Greece, even before the highway 1 (A1).

Western section ( Epirus, Igoumenitsa - Ioannina - Metsovo - Panagia )

Igoumenitsa - Ioannina

The A2 begins in the immediate hinterland of the modern port of Igoumenitsa and leads directly to the southeast of the mountain region of the western Pindos Mountains in Epirus to. In contrast to the period before the completion of the highway 2, the city of Igoumenitsa is hereby no longer crosses, but bypassed in its south. Along a river valley leads the A2 towards the southeast of the village of Vassilikos, shake in this by about 90 degrees to the north-east and runs along the north shore of Lake Chaskova. It bends at the northeastern end of Lake Chaskova again to the southeast and crosses near the village of Neohori the National Road 18, which runs south of the A2 in the village Paramithia; the A2 runs north of Paramithia further east between the massifs of the mountains Kourendon (north) and Alysos (south) past the villages of Selles and Tyria to Dodona.

The southeast altitude mountain Tomaros ( Olytsika ) is in a northeast arc bypassed ( as Dodona also ) Before Dodona. Northeast of Dodona is the mountain range that separates the plain of Ioannina and Dodona, passes under a tunnel. The Dodoni tunnel runs approximately 1 km south of the National Road 17 from Ioannina to Dodona, which crosses the mountain range as a pass road winding. This national highway A2 in the junction Dodona (4 ) and thus binds the archaeological site of the Dodona oracle on the A2.

Ioannina - Metsovo

The Dodona tunnel has its eastern portal in the southwest of the plateau of Ioannina. The A2 leads east-northeast oriented over the south of Ioannina and crosses near the village of Pedini the national road 5 future (see Ionia Odos ) here is the highway end 5 lead which along the west coast of Greece ( Ionian Sea) in the northwest of the Peloponnese will. The high level of Ioannina is left in its south-east at the foot of the mountain Driskos with the Driskos tunnel; this is also the longest highway tunnel in the course of A2. On the eastern flank of the mountain Driskos the same tunnel ends in the valley of the River Arachthos ( west side ), which runs from north to south.

The A2 crossed the longest bridge in the entire route of this river on the east side of the valley. Then it swings more to the northeast along the river Metsovitikos ( Arachthos Creek ) and runs south of the Zagoria region between the mountains Demati ( North) and Gradetsi or Lakmos (south) of the resort Votonosi to. In the village of Votonosi in the valley of the river Metsovitikos the A2 swung southeast and leads to Metsovo around. Bypassing the plateau of Metsovo ( 1,100 m) ( both tunnels longer than 2 km) is also realized with the aid of Metsovo and Anilio tunnel. The lying to the east of Metsovo Katara Pass will pass under it.

This stretch is both technically and ecologically the most difficult on the entire route of the highway 2 As a result, many bridges and tunnels are required, even the design of the connection points is not possible without major buildings: at the junction Metsovo ( 7) had a spiral tunnel in the feeder road are introduced to allow to overcome the differences in height between the existing road network and the A2.

Metsovo Panagia

After leaving the Metsovo tunnel the A2 continues through difficult terrain to the east -northeast to the village of Panagia. In the Panagia A2 swings clearly off to the northeast and does another technically difficult terrain after Grevena. Epirus is exited at Panagia, and for a short piece of a north-western corner is crossed by Thessaly, Western Macedonia before the A2 runs. In the National Panagia road takes 6 access to the A2 and enables achievement of the Meteora monasteries in Kalambaka. In future, the Highway 3 (A3, Odos Kentrikis Elladas ) will probably end up here, which will lead over Kalambaka Trikala to Lamia ..

Middle section ( Macedonia, Thessaloniki - Kavala Panagia )

Panagia - Grevena - Kozani - Siatista

After leaving of Panagia and the Tilt north-northeast (also by means of the Panagia tunnel ) begins the section of the A2 in Western Macedonia. Along river valleys in the catchment of Aliakmona the mountain ranges of central-eastern Pindos Mountains are traversed ( west: Kopanes, Trypimeni, Simandro; East Chasia Ori), the village of Agia Paraskevi happened and bridged the river Venetikos. The city of Grevena Grevena in the Regional District (one of the most sparsely populated regions in Greece) is bypassed from the south coming to the northeast leader. In the bypass and the river Greveniotikos is crossed in a big bridge.

After Grevena A2 initially runs in unmodified direction Siatista in the valley of Aliakmona. This is crossed, shortly thereafter bends the National Highway 15 to the northwest in the direction of Kastoria and then further back from the Albanian border. As part of the construction of the A2 national road 15 relieved by a parallel highway 29 (A29 ). In Siatista that is happening south of the south to the northeast, the A2 changes direction and turns to the northeast and runs in the valley between the northern flank of Vourinos Mountain and the southern flank of Askio -Bergs into the plane of Kozani. Kozani is bypassed to the north, the National Road 3 here crossed. Immediately there is the interchange Kozani -Nord, in which the A2 motorway and 27 ( A27; Kozani - Ptolemais ) next to the crossing of the National Road 3 intersect.

Kozani - Veria -Thessaloniki

The level of Kozani is to crosses to its western end at the village Polymylos straight. Near the village Polymylos the Vermio massif is happening on its southern flank in the bow. The A2 runs parallel to the river Aliakmona and its reservoir, from that but at least 8 km away. The passage of Vermio southern flank is also technically difficult and is coped with many bridges and tunnels. The previously required passage of this on a route, the parallel national highway 4 ( Kastania Pass ) does not apply to long-distance travelers.

After passing through the southern flank of the Vermio A2 swings for a short section of the course to the north towards the town of Veria and thus enters the zentralmakedonische lowlands. In the south of Veria, the A2 road, turn to the north- east to run parallel to the Aliakmona by the zentralmakedonische lowlands to the coast of the Thermaikos Gulf. It happened while the city of Alexandria in the south and meet at the village Klidi to the coming of south Highway 1 (A1, E 75; PATHE ), which connects north to south Thessaloniki with Athens along the east coast of the Greek mainland.

From the triangle Klidi the two highways unite and lead as a common route and the road in a curve to the Thermaikos Gulf around. They describe this one 90 ° circumference, cross the rivers Axios and Loudias. After the bridge over the Axios, the lines on the triangle Axios share on: the A1 leads north towards Evzoni the Macedonian border, the A2 runs along the coast of the Gulf Thermaic in a northeasterly direction to Thessaloniki or the suburb Kalochori. In Kalochori a branch of A2 leads directly into the city center of Thessaloniki and its harbor. The main route of the A2 pivots on the cross Kalochori strictly to the north to start the western section of the ring road of Thessaloniki.

First, to the north extend the eastern suburbs of Thessaloniki are avoided. After the intersection with National Road 2 in Nea Ionia, swings the A2 to the northeast, bypassing the suburbs of Thessaloniki Stavroupoli and Evosmos. In Evosmos the A2 for a short distance turn strictly to the east and passes through densely built-up area to the suburb Efkarpia. On the cross Evkarpia (also called Cross titanium or K4) is an affiliation with the Inner Ring Road of Thessaloniki, who travels around the city in a wide arc to the south and then lists the Chalkidiki and has connection to the national roads 16 and 67.

Thessaloniki Rendina

The A2 swings Efkarpia back to the northeast, passing through the northwestern foothills of Chortiatis and meets at Derveni / Liti on the National Road 12 ( Serres and Bulgaria). One to two kilometers to the east highway 25 (also European Route 79) connected to the motorway junction Langadas to the A2; over the former National Road 12 to replacing the objectives Kilkis, Serres and Promachonas on the border with Bulgaria will be achieved. on the western edge of the lake. The lake Koroneia is moved around on its northern coast to the land bridge between the lakes Koroneia Volvi in a plane; the namesake of the A2, the old National Road 2, leads to the southern shores of the lakes Koroneia Volvi strictly to the east at Rendina Valley. The A2 has difficult on the narrow northern coast of the lake Volvi terrain before reaching the valley running from Rendina to the east.

Rendina - Kavala

The Rendina Valley is a leader bypassed to the east in the north, so that the A2 is on the coast of the Aegean ( Strymonischer golf) again. The A2 is based on the slopes of the coastal mountains ( Kerdylio ( Berg) ) and thus extends north from the tourist centers Nea Vrasna and especially Asprovalta at the mouth of the river to Strymonas. The river is crossed Strymonas in the height of the ancient Amphipolis with a bridge: where Central Macedonia is come and go East Macedonia.

After the arc-shaped detour around the estuary Strymonas the A2 for a short distance to the southeast runs, and then to wheel with East Course in the valley between the mountain ranges Pangeo and Symvolo. Along the southern flank of the Pangeon or northern flank of the Symvolo the valley is traversed in its entire length. At the end of the valley the mountain chain crosses under towards the coast at Nea Peramos with the Symvolo tunnel. The coastline orientation lasts only a few miles: then the city of Kavala from west to east along the mountain slopes is bypassed in their north. This section turned out to be due to the basin location of Kavala very difficult: it had to be crossed around the Kavala around several Taleinschnitte in the mountain range. In the eastern part of the arc A2 rises from the heights of the mountains of the Kavala back to shore from.

Eastern section ( Thrace Kavala - Alexandroupoli - Kipi )

Kavala - Xanthi - Komotini section - Mesti

After leaving the eastern edge of the A2 Kavala relegated back to shore level and runs along the foot of the mountains to the east. The peninsula east of Kavala (north of the island Thassos) is in this case a straight line passing through on her foot. Thus, the airport of Kavala city Chrysoupolis the A2 runs to the north, which is passed to the north. After Chrysoupolis the basin of the Nestos River is reached, which is crossed by a bridge. This will leave East Macedonia and Thrace reached. The direction of A2 is already in the Nestos crossing back east- north-east and leads to the southwest of the city of Xanthi.

Xanthi is in a northeasterly direction leading south happens to the A2 goes east of Xanthi on the southern slope of the mountain Karaoglou on direct easterly course. With this course of Vistonida lake is bypassed to the north, the village Iasmos happened and continued the route to the airport from Komotini. At the airport of Komotini A2 swings back to the southeast, bypassing Komotini in the south and then leads directly towards the northern flank of the Ismarus massif, bringing the westthrakische level is exited.

Section Mesti - Alexandroupolis Kipi

In the village of Mesti the A2 starts its passage through the valleys of Ismarus until near the village of Makri west of Alexandroupolis the Aegean coast is again in sight. In Makri A2 swings back to the east and leads by far the coasts in the north of Alexandroupolis past it to the northeast. It passes through the layer with the Industrial Area of Alexandroupolis on the slopes of the mountains on the western edge of the Evros valley. This is achieved by the then East pivoting A2 near the village of Ardanio. Here the A2 intersects the National Road 51 from Alexandroupolis to Orestiada along the west side of the Evros valley.

After the node Ardanio for the A2 straight to the Evros river, happened peplos in the south and ends at the village of Kipi at the same border crossing with Turkey ( Kipi / Ipsala ). Between the Greek border control and the Turkish border control at Ipsala the Evros River is crossed by a bridge.

On the Turkish side of the D110 Ipsala about Tekirdag leads to Istanbul.

Parallelism with other roads

Via Egnatia

It follows from the course of Thessaloniki National Road 2 to the Turkish border at Kipi. In this case where this section essentially corresponds to the course of the ancient Via Egnatia. From Thessaloniki ionic westward towards the sea the A2 ( E 90 ) runs south than the ancient Via Egnatia: the latter was about Edessa, Petre, Florina to Durres in Albania.

Due to the parallelism of the curves as well as the desired route in analogy importance is the A2 ( E 90 ) also known as " Nea Egnatia " ( New Egnatia ) or simply as Egnatia Odos ( Egnatia road; Greek Εγνατία Οδός ) refers.

National roads

National Road 6 (EO 6): Igoumenitsa - Ioannina ( partial)
National Road 6 (EO 6): Ioannina - Metsovo ( partial)
National Road 6 (EO 6): Metsovo Panagia ( partial)
National Road 15 (EO 15): Panagia - Grevena ( partial)
National Road 20 (EO 20): Grevena - Kozani ( partial)
National Highway 4 (EO 4): Kozani - Veria ( partial)
National Road 2 (EO 2): Strymonas-Galipsos/Orfanou
National Road 2 ( E.O. 2): Nea Peramos - Perni
National Road 2 (EO 2): Mesti - Makri - Alexandroupolis

European Routes

E 90: total distance ( Igoumenitsa - Kipi )
E 92: Igoumenitsa - ( gepl. ) Autobahndreieck Panagia
E 75: interchange Klidi - motorway intersection Axios
E 79: Highway Cross titanium / Efkarpia - motorway intersection Langadas / Serres

Construction and use charges

Builder

The A2 is supported by the EU by the consortium Egnatia Odos AE built.

Expansion of state

The A2 was completed with the opening to traffic of the tunnel S2 and S3 ( Tyria and Agios Kostadinos ). After completion and opening to traffic in July 2009, two additional connection points have been put into operation in July 2010: the junction Taxiarhis section junction Grevena - east to interchange Siatista -West ( Section Grevena - Siatista ) and the junction Kerdylia section junction Rendina to junction Strymonas ( Thessaloniki - Kavala )

The A2 is designed throughout with two carriageways, each with two lanes and one emergency lane. In the field of the ring of Thessaloniki each carriageway has three lanes and one emergency lane. The width of the lane (3.75 m in flat areas, 3.5 m in the mountains ) and the parking lane (2.5 m) corresponds to the European standard. The center strip has a width of 2.5-4.5 m. The resulting overall cross section of the highway thus has a width of 22.0 to 24.5 m. For the outer ring of Thessaloniki, the width increases to 32 m ( 3 lanes 1 emergency lane ).

Due to the mountainous landscape, particularly in Epirus ( Pindos ), the A2 is a very expensive and does not cost structure. Many bridges and tunnels have been required along the route.

According to the operator and construction company:

The maximum speed limit is 130 km / h for cars ( when wet 100 km / h ). The design speed is 120 km / h in the plains and 80-100 km / h in the mountainous sections.

Construction costs

The total construction cost amounted, according to the construction and operating company at 5.9 billion euros. Otherwise, unconfirmed sources, the construction costs will add up to a total of up to 10 billion euros.

Toll charges

The track is ( with the exception of the outer ring of Thessaloniki and other smaller sections ) toll road. Total 2009 13 toll stations are provided on the 670 km long route as of November:

Selles - between junctions Selles / Tyria and Neohori (Section Igoumenitsa - Ioannina)
Ioannina - between junctions Pamvotida and Arachthos / Zagoria (Section Ioannina - Metsovo )
Metsovo - between junctions Metsovo and Panagia (Section Metsovo - Grevena )
Grevena - between junctions Panagia and Venetikos (Section Metsovo - Grevena )
Polymylos - between junctions Veria and Polymylos, shortly before the latter (Section Kozani - Veria )
Kouloura - between junctions Kouloura and Niselio / Alexandria (Section Veria - Klidi )
Malgara - between junctions Klidi and Malgara (Section Klidi - Axios )
Nymfopetra - between junctions Langada and Profitis (Section Langada - Asprovalta )
Pangeo - between junctions Orfanio and Mousthenis (Section Strymonas Kavala )
Nestos - between junctions Chrysoupoli and Vaniano (Section Kavala - Xanthi )
Xanthi - between junctions Vafika and Iasmos (Section Xanthi - Komotini )
Komotini - at the height of the industrial area of Komotini (Section Komotini - Alexandroupolis )
Alexandroupoli - between junctions Industrial Area of Alexandroupolis and Ardanio (Section Alexandroupolis - Turkish border )

In operation since November 2009 was only a tollbooth ( Malgara, Section motorway junction Klidi Motorway Junction Axios ) on the common ( old ) route of A1 and A2. The toll amounts to 2 euros for cars.

The tollbooth Polymylos was commissioned in section Kozani - Veria in operation on September 14, 2010: this is the first toll gate in operation tollbooth on the newly constructed route of the A2. The toll at the toll booth toll Polymylos are:

Motorcycles and trikes - 2.00 EUR
Cars - 2.80 EUR
Trucks and buses with up to 3 axes - 7.00 EUR
Trucks and buses with more than 3 axles - € 10.00 EUR

More tollbooths will not be until the summer of 2011 put into operation ( including the completed tollgate Ioannina - see picture). The installation of an electronic toll collection system for the entire range of A2 is planned.

Networking

Road

The following nationally significant roads are connected to the A2:

National Road 6 and 15: Kalambaka - Grevena - Kastoria - Krystallopigi / Ieropigi ( Albanian border )

National road 5, 20 and 22: Arta - Ioannina - Kakavia ( Albanian border )

National Road 3/Autobahn 27 ( A27 ): Larissa - Kozani - Ptolemais - Florina - Niki ( Macedonian border )

Highway 1 ( A1 PATHE ): Larisa - Katerini - Thessaloniki - Polykastro - Evzoni ( Macedonian border )
National Road 67: Thessaloniki - Nea Moudania - Kallithea

Highway 25 (A25 ): Thessaloniki - Serres - Promachonas ( Bulgarian border )
National Road 12: Kavala - Drama - Exochi ( Bulgarian border )
National Road 58: Komotini - Nymfea ( Bulgarian border )
National Road 51: Alexandroupolis - Orestiada - Edirne (Turkey) - Svilengrad (Bulgaria)

Traffic

The following international / national airports of Greece are on the A2

Ioannina ( Pyrros Airport )
Kozani ( Filippos Airport )
Thessaloniki ( Makedonia Airport )
Kavala ( Megas Alexandros Airport )
Alexandroupolis ( Demokritos Airport )

Ship traffic ( ports )

Igoumenitsa
Thessaloniki
Kavala
Alexandroupolis

Signs

The Greek highways are identified by signs with green background. The number signs correspond to the number characteristic of the German Autobahn, but instead of a blue background a green used and the number is prefixed with a capital letter A.

The lettering is always in two languages : the English-language signage is kept in white letters, the Greek in yellow letters.

The font DIN 1451 is used in a majority of cases, alternatively there are also other fonts. The inscription is partly in capitals, partly in lower case. Normally, the Greek name of the town is only given after the. Spelling in English