Ionia Odos
Template: Infobox trunk road / Maintenance / GR -A
Periferies (regions):
- Epirus
- Western Greece
- Peloponnese
- In construction
- In planning
The Aftokinitodromos 5/Αυτοκινητόδρομος 5 (Greek for, highway 5 '), also Ionia Odos / Ιόνια Οδός called (Greek for " Ionian Road" ), is a Greek highway and connects Ioannina in northwestern Greece with Tsakona in the south of the Peloponnese. He thus closes the west of mainland Greece adjoins the existing highway network in Greece and is named after the Aftokinitodromos 1, the second north-south highway connecting Greece. Sections are part of the European Route 55, the European Route 853 and European Route 951 The southern part from Patras is also known as Olympia Odos.
Course
The Highway 5 follows closely the course of the National Road 5 (EO 5) from Ioannina to Rio. In expanding to the north (Greek - Albanian border at Ktismata ), the course is up to the village Kalpaki the National Road 20 (EO 20) and then the National Road 22 (EO 22) accordingly.
Following publication of the numbering scheme of the Greek motorways by the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works in early 2008 the A5 comprises in addition to the original course of Kakavia over Ioannina to Rio also the route from Rio via Patras, Pyrgos, Kyparissia Tsakona in the south of the Peloponnese. This route was previously known as Highway 9 ( A9).
The highway 5 thus continues from Patras along the west coast of the Peloponnese to the south. It is based largely on the history of the National Road 9 (EO 9) up to Kalo Nero north of the river and the city Kyparissia Peristeri, with the course but not identical. After Kalo Nero the route of Highway 5 to the east swings into the interior of the Peloponnese and leads into the northern part of the level of Messenia. It follows the course of the National Road 9a Tsakona to the National Road 7 (EO 7) or for future highway 7
Construction and expansion
On the Greek mainland, which bypasses the towns of Arta and Agrinio and the Charilaos Trikoupis bridge at Rio as a connection to the Peloponnese peninsula have been completed. Between these three sections, the highway is under construction. Also, the section between Arta and Ioannina Airport including the interchange with the A2 is currently under construction. The total distance from Ioannina to Rio will then comprise a length of 196 km. The expansion of the section north of Ioannina until after Ktismata on the Greek- Albanian border (about 70 km) is not currently considered to be urgent requirement, so that at present there are only plans for this section. Instead, first to 20 and 22 successively expanded the existing national roads. With the bypass of Ioannina and the section between the Albanian border and Kalpaki important parts of this route section have already been completed. However, the long-term goal remains the extension of the A5 motorway to the Albanian- Greek border.
In the Peloponnese the Bypass of Patras has also been completed. This includes several bridges and tunnels, as it bypasses Patras in a wide arc from east to south-west on the slopes of Panachaiko massif. The other stretch of Patras (end of motorway bypass southwest of the city ) to Pyrgos is located partially under construction while the portion of Pyrgos to Kyparissia and Tsakona is only planned done. The section on the Peloponnese was originally known as the A9 motorway to a decree of the Greek government changed the numbering.
The entire highway will be a toll road after completion. Currently this is only the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge.
Networking
The Ioannina Airport and Araxos be directly connected to the motorway. After completion of the under construction new port of Patras this also a direct shuttle gets to the highway 5 Thus, the majority of EU goods traffic from the city of Patras is kept out and instead directed over the A5.
Special
A technical challenge was the crossing of the Gulf of Patras with the 2,883 m long Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge. This bridge was with the detours of Arta and Patras, the first completed parts of the A5.
Attractions
About the Highway 5 the ancient Dodona, on Amfilohia the ancient Actium and the island of Lefkada and Preveza and the National Road 21 ( EO21 ) Nicopolis can be achieved. To the west of the Peloponnese Ancient Olympia and the Temple of Apollo at Bassae are also accessible via the A5.