Athens-Thessaloniki highway remains closed at the height of flooded Thessaly in Central Greece also on Thursday, September 14, 2023, due to flood water and mud.
Authorities suggest the highway may open to traffic on upcoming Saturday or maybe on Sunday, September 16-17.
Essentially, Greece is cut in two, since the highway is one of the major central arteries of the country and its large part is closed to traffic since September 9. At the moment, there is no official information on the date it will be given back to traffic, as the water remains on the roadway.
It is also unknown how the water will drain from the road surface, as well as in what condition the asphalt is in and how the flood affected it regarding with regards to corrosion.
Yesterday, Wednesday, authorities reported that it will take another 48 hours to remain closed. So, in an optimistic scenario, the motorway can be reopened from Friday 15 September.
What is certain is that the Athens-Thessaloniki highway cannot be opened unless special teams conduct investigations and controls on the spot as parts of the highway are considered as possible dangerous to drive one.
Alternative routes
Until the highway is safely opened to traffic again, professional drivers, as well as citizens who want to travel from Thessaloniki to Athens and vice versa, will have to find an alternative route.
The safest route via a central motorway and not via provincial network – which can also be in a bad state – is the Ionia Odos, Athens – Patras via the Rio – Antirrio bridge and then the highway Egnatia Ioannina – Thessaloniki and vice versa .
The alternative route is a long journey of additional 280 km and lasts almost 7 hours and has a higher fuel cost.
Toll-free passage
It is reminded that those who follow this route will have free tolls, according to recent announcement by Infrastructure & Transport Minister Christos Staikouras.
The measure was originally thought until Thursday, September 14 at 6 a.m. but it could be extended until Athens-Thessaloniki traffic is fully restored.
The toll-free passage of vehicles: from the tolls on the Rio-Antirio Bridge “Charilaos Trikoupis”, at the Egnatia Road toll road between Thessaloniki and the intersection with Ionia Road, along Ionian Road and the E65 highway in both directions.
In addition, toll-free is reportedly also the passage also from the tolls of the “Aegean” highway, in the section from Nikaia to the Maliakos Gulf (Pelasgia), including the tolls on the side roads in the area in question.
Note that a part of Larissa-Trikala highway was opened to traffic on Wednesday.