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 and completed in 2017
The A8 motorway, also known as the Athens–Patras motorway (Greek: Αυτοκινητόδρομος Αθήνα-Πάτρα),[1][2] is a toll motorway in southwestern Greece, which connects Athens with Patras via Corinth, spanning a total of 215 km (134 mi).
The motorway replaces Greek National Road 8A, which has been upgraded to modern motorway standards. The completion date was scheduled for 2014.[3] Since April 2017, the entire motorway from Eleusis to Patras is fully operational.[4]
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 to handle emergency calls, as well as monitor traffic situations and contact emergency services when needed. Also, as part of the construction deal, 24/7 patrols, worksite protection, timely detection and response to incidents, and special services in the winter, are included.
During the construction phase, routine maintenance and work for all parts of the infrastructure of the existing National roads were conducted.
On 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 traffic, with the presence of the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras.[7] Although there were still some minor scale works (mostly on interchanges), traffic flow was not impacted. On the same day, the Derveni tunnels were given to public use. On December 19, 2016, another 9 km opened in Olympia Odos from Kiato to Xylokastro, without the Xylokastro interchange which was opened in February together with Derveni Interchange.
Any remaining segments of the motorway under construction were completed and opened to traffic in April 2017 when the official inauguration of the road took place as well,[4] at the same month that segments of the A5 motorway and the A1 motorway's Tempe tunnels were also inaugurated and opened to traffic.
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^Lialios, Giorgos (12 January 2016). "Αλλαξε η λίστα των αυτοκινητόδρομων" [The list of motorways has changed]. Kathimerini (in Greek). Athens: Kathimerini Publishing. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
