East end: Eleusis East Constructed 2008 | Length 215 km Major cities Corinth, Eleusis, Aigio | |
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History: 1962–1973: Constructed as National Road 8A
2008: Eleusis–Corinth section reassigned as A8 motorway
Since 2008: Corinth–Rio section upgraded to dual carriageway standard West end: Rio interchange:
to Ioannina and Patros Regions: Attica, Peloponnese, West Greece | ||
The Greek Motorway 8 (Greek: Αυτοκινητόδρομος 8), is a motorway in Greece, partially under construction. Part of the Olympia Odos network, the motorway connects Athens with Patras in southwestern Greece, spanning a total of 215 km (134 mi).
Contents
- Map of A8 Greece
- Operation
- Facilities
- Construction progress
- Westbound direction Patras
- Eastbound direction Athens
- References
Map of A8, Greece
The motorway replaces Greek National Road 8A, which is being upgraded to modern motorway standards. The completion date was scheduled for 2014. As of 2016, the easternmost section between Corinth and Eleusis of the A8 motorway has been completed, along with the Ancient Corinth - Kiato segment, fully opened in September 2016.
Operation
Olympia Odos S.A. will maintain and operate the road for a total of 30 years. Operations will include two Traffic Control Centers built to operate 24/7 in order to handle emergency calls, as well as monitor traffic situations and contact emergency services when needed. Also included, will be 24/7 patrols, worksite protection, timely detection and response to incidents, and special services in the winter.
During the construction phase, routine maintenance and work for all parts of the infrastructure of the existing National roads will be conducted.
Facilities
As of 2012, there are 4 toll stations in the GR-8A/A8: at Eleusis, the Isthmus, Zevgolateio and Rio. The section between Eleusis and Corinth has 3 lanes per direction. There are service areas in Nea Peramos, Megara, Isthmus, Kiato, Akrata and Aigio.
Construction progress
In September 2 2016, the first fully completed Olympia Odos segment, the section between Ancient Corinth and Kiato (20 km. with 2 lanes in each direction + emergency lane and two interchanges (in Zevgolatio and Kiato), was officially opened to the traffic, with the presence of the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras. Although there are still some works of minor scale (mostly on interchanges), the segment is used normally. Also, the Derveni tunnels were opened in the same day. As of September 2016, it is speculated that the 15 km. Kiato - Xylokastro segment will be given to traffic by the end of the year. The rest of the motorway will be completed by March 2017, up to Rio, where it connects with the A5 motorway. As of September 2016, the construction progress stood at circa 80%. In 19 December 2016, new 9 km. opened in Olympia Odos from Kiato to Xylokastro (without Xylokastro Interchange). Xylokastro Interchnage will open in February with Derveni Interchange without the two lines road.