Greek National Road 2

Template: Infobox trunk road / Maintenance / GR -N

Periferies (regions):

• West Macedonia
• Central Macedonia
• East Macedonia and Thrace

The Ethniki Odos 2/Εθνική Οδός 2 (Greek for National Road 2 ' ) is a trunk road on the Greek mainland, which from the northwest to the Albanian border ( Krystallopigi ) in the Regional District of Florina east to the Turkish border at Kipi in the regional district of Evros. It is an important east-west connection in northern Greece with a length of about 630 km. Their importance will decline until 2010 as East-West transport corridor of road transport by the completion of Highway 2 (A2, Egnatia Odos ) for the route from Thessaloniki to the Turkish border; sections of the national road number 2 is replaced in this by the Highway 2.

• 4.1 Railway (stations )
• 4.2 Air transport ( airports)
• 4.3 ship traffic ( ports )

• 5.1 Immediately to the E.O. 2
• 5.2 in distance from the E.O. 2

Course

Generally

The National Highway 2 runs over long distances along the route of the ancient Via Egnatia, which the cities of Rome, Thessaloniki and Byzantium joined the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Except in the course of the Via Egnatia from today Florina; they went on the Prespa Lakes, Tirana to Durres ( Dyrrachium ). The National Road 2, however, runs from Florina to the west and then swung to the southwest to the Albanian border at Bilisht and Krystallopigi. From Florina about Edessa, Thessaloniki to Amphipolis corresponds to the route of the ancient Via Egnatia. Today's smaller deviations are due to new trassierte bypass and upgraded lines. After pivoting the ancient Via Egnatia to Philippi run the two routes de facto congruent.

The same applies to the Highway 2 from Igoumenitsa via Thessaloniki to Kipi. Until Thessaloniki Highway 2 clearly leads south and west as the National Road 2 (the distance between two lines grow to the west ).

Western section ( Florina, Pella )

The National Highway 2 begins at the Albanian border at Krystallopigi in the regional district of Florina and runs first east and then north to the town of Florina. It happened while the Pisoderi Pass east of Florina between the mountains of Vourinos and Verno ( Vitsi ). Before passage of the Pisoderi pass a road branches connect to the Greek areas around the Prespa lakes; it is the only notable and well- paved road connection in the region around the Prespa lakes. From the Pisoderi pass the national road 2 runs in the valley of the river Sakoulevas east toward Florina and this occurs at the western end of town. It passes through the town of Florina and meets at the eastern entrance to the from the north of the border with Macedonia at Niki upcoming National Road 3 on a common route lead the national road 2 and 3 to east -southeast through the plains of Florina to the township Vivie north of Klidi and west of the Kili - Derven pass. In the western town limits, Vivie, the common route of national highways 2 and 3 shared before construction of the section to Lake Vegoritida and Petre's Lake. The National Highway 2 ran through the village of Vivie and crossed the hills to the village of Kelli ( Kella ). From there, unchanged in east oriented towards the national road 2 Kella joined on the Kili - Derven pass with the village Arnissa in the plain north of the Vegoritida lake and then went on east to the city of Edessa. The National Road 3 was from the division west and south through the town of Vivie pass on the Klidi Pass ( Mala Reka - pass ) to Amyndeo, Ptolemais and Kozani.

Through realignment of Klidi pass system and installation of an eastern and northern bypass no longer the lakes Petre and especially Vegoritida the National Road 2 is now congruent with the National Highway 3 to the south of the small town Amyndeo. After passing the village of Vivie the national road pivoted 2 (and 3) and via a new and well -developed road by removing the pointed curves and slopes south towards Amyndeo. The Klidi pass between the mountains of Mala Reka and Lilakos is this happening west of the old route. After passage of the Klidi Pass, the road leads in a broad eastward bend around the small town Amyndeo in the south. Here branches off the National Road 3 south towards Ptolemais and Kozani, while the National Highway 2 south and east of the lake Vegoritida into new track alignment and good state of development to the north. The Lake Vegoritida is not circumnavigated offshore but a few kilometers distance by rolling countryside. East of the village Arnissa take both together as a route of the National Road 2 and the railway line Amyndeo - Arnissa - Edessa with the new route of the National Road 2. It turns east and runs on a plane ( in still many curves ) to Agra, then runs along the southern valley wall of the river to Edessa. They passed through the wetland of Agras Reservoir at its Südufter.

The National Road 2 proceeded with its old route through the city of Edessa: she made this a sharp bend to the south, to accomplish the descent from the plateau of Edessa in serpentine. Once in the plane at Edessa, it swings directly east toward Giannitsa. In 2009, this urban section was replaced by a sprawling bypass of Edessa: this leads to the village of Agra into a south-facing arc around the city of Edessa around and ends just west of the village Rizari along the ancient route. From Rizari the national road 2 runs until after Mesovouni on an older curvy route to a moderate expansion state. After passing the village of Mesovouni the old winding route is left after Giannitsa and pivots on a new gutausgebaute and straightforward route to immediately west of Giannitsa. The National Highway 2 through the city Giannitsa through further to the village of Nea Chalkidona. Here it passes south of the village of Nea Pella and the southwest lies of this archaeological site of the ancient capital of Macedonia Pella. The Archaeological Museum of Pella is located directly south of the excavation area directly on the busy National Highway 2. These (and other ) danger spots to be eliminated by a realignment of the National Road 2 between Giannitsa, Pella, Paralimni Nea Chalkidona. Driving through the village of Nea Chalkidona where the National Road 4 branches over Alexandria to Veria, the state of development of the national road changes to a road running.

Central section (Thessaloniki, Serres, Kavala )

From Nea Chalkidona from the National Highway 2 continues eastwards towards Thessaloniki. It is the highway 1 (A1) crossed ( Evzoni - Athens). Further east it passes through the north of the industrial area of Thessaloniki ( Sindos ). It crosses Highway 2 (A2 ) ( outer ring Thessaloniki ) and then performs with intersections and traffic lights through the suburbs Diavata and Nea Ionia for after Evosmos. Here is pivoted, the route to the northeast and joins the inner ring of Thessaloniki, which is running around in a northeasterly direction to the town on the slopes of Seich -Sou (city forest ). After about 5-6 km leaves the E.O. 2 with a branch to the inner ring of Thessaloniki and leads to the A2. There the two paths unite to cross Serres / Langadas. While the A2 runs to the north of the lakes Koroneia Volvi, runs the EO 2 in the south of the lakes on the northern edge of Chalkidiki by the narrowness of Rentina through after Asprovalta. From there both routes run in parallel across the river Strymonas by Amphipolis. This is where the paths divide: the E.O. 2 runs to the south of the peninsula with the mountain Symvolo, the A2 in the north of the mountain with a Symvolo by leading through this tunnel to Kavala. The A2 results in a bypass around Kavala around north, the EO 2 runs through the city. From Kavala run both A2 and E.O. 2 parallel Xanthi.

Eastern section ( Xanthi, Rodopi, Evros )

While the E.O. 2 runs into the city of Xanthi, the A2 leads to the south by Xanthi over to the east. In the course eastward, the two lines do not run parallel, but the EO 2 crosses the A2 in a southwesterly direction to the lagoon from Lagos to extend, while the A2 passes through the lagoon from Lagos ( Vistonida lake ) in the north. The E.O. 2 of the A2 approaches to the northeast running again, crosses them and leads into the city of Komotini, whereas the A2 passes to the south of Komotini. While the E.O. 2 a " pivot " performs after Komotini to Sapes, the A2 runs directly southeast to Alexandroupolis and passes through the city to the north. The E.O. 2 runs of parallel Sapes from the A2 to Alexandroupolis, but leads through the town and along the coast to the Evros Delta. There they swung to the northeast, passing through Ferres and then strikes the A2 ( Cross Ardanio ). From there, both lines run directly to the Turkish border at Kipi: A2 directly to the border crossing Kipi, the EO 2 runs through the villages Kipi and peplos.

Sections, expansion

The majority of E.O. 2 is in the western section of a 2-lane road with oncoming traffic. However, in recent years extensive measures to improve road will take place. Here, certain sections have been expanded:

• Kristallopigi - Kotas -South

Expansion as a ( preliminary ) part of highway 29 (A29 ) ( Krystallopigi / Ieropigi - Kastoria - Siatista )

• Armenochori - Vivie

Expansion with 2 tracks with oncoming traffic, 1 emergency lane and mountain sections 1 slow lane

• Vivie - Drosia

Expansion with 2 tracks with oncoming traffic, 1 emergency lane and mountain sections 1 slow lane

• Mavrovouni - Giannitsa

Expansion with 2 tracks with oncoming traffic, 1 emergency lane and mountain sections 1 slow lane

• Nea Chalkidona -Thessaloniki

Expansion with 2 tracks 1 emergency lane per direction road ( highway-like )

• Inner ring Thessaloniki ( Thessaloniki Esoteriki Periferiaki )

Expansion with 3 tracks 1 emergency lane per direction road ( highway-like )

European Routes

The E.O. 2 leads rata on their route following European streets with it:

• E 65: Florina - Amyndeo
• E 90: Thessaloniki - Kipi

In addition corresponds to the stretch of Florina after Amyndeo the EO 2 of the National Road 3 (EO 3) (or vice versa) and thus E 65 ).

Networks

Railway (stations )

The following stations are located along the route of the E.O. 2

• Florina
• Vivie
• Amyndeo
• Arnissa
• Agras
• Edessa
• Thessaloniki
• Xanthi
• Komotini
• Alexandroupolis

Air Transport ( Airports )

The following major airports are located in the vicinity (< 20 km ) of the EO 2:

• Thessaloniki
• Kavala
• Alexandroupolis

Ship traffic ( ports )

• Thessaloniki
• Kavala
• Alexandroupolis

Attractions

Immediately at the E.O. 2

The following attractions can be found immediately (within 5 km distance ) at the EO 2:

• Florina - Florina Ancient
• Amynteo - Ancient Petre
• Edessa - Waterfall of Edessa
• Edessa - Longos ( ancient Edessa )
• Pella - Pella Ancient
• Pella - Macedonia Graves
• Thessaloniki - Byzantine churches, Galerius, Rotonda
• Nea Apollonia - Ancient Apollonia and Spa
• Amphipolis - Ancient city of Amphipolis
• Kavala - Aqueduct
• Nestos - River & Nature Reserve
• Lagos - Lagos lagoon with Church
• River Evros Delta

In distance to the E.O. 2

The following attractions can be found immediately (within 40 km distance ) at the EO 2:

• Florina - Prespa Lakes
• Vergina - grave Philip II
• Dion - Ancient Dion
• Petralona - Cave of Petralona
• Olymbiada - Ancient Stagira
• Philippi - Ancient Philippi
• Avdira - Antique Avdira
• Maroneia - Ancient Maroneia