Historical Information
The need to construct a motorway that would constitute the regional ring road of Athens had emerged as early as the 1960s. The main objectives at that time were to facilitate traffic circulation in the road network of the Attica basin and to mitigate the environmental problems caused by traffic in the area.
At first, the project was named “Elefsina – Stavros Motorway”, but, in the 1980s, when the “Eleftherios Venizelos” Airport was planned to be located at Spata, the then planned motorway was renamed into Elefsina – Stavros – Spata A/P motorway (ESSM). Later, in the 1990s, the Imittos Western Peripheral Motorway (IWPM) was also integrated in the design for the ring road.
By the consolidation of the two aforementioned motorways, a unified project, named “Attiki Odos“, was created.
The size and the particularities of construction, as well as the fact that Attica Tollway would pass through residential districts and areas of great historical significance, made implementation of the project a complex exercise. Nevertheless, in the mid-1990s, the blueprints took the form of a fully comprehensive design and the project could now enter the implementation phase.
While Attica Tollway was under construction, the Public Authorities responsible ascertained the need to execute additional new works. These projects were not directly related to the Attica Tollway’s operation, but the Greek Government deemed that their execution in parallel to its construction was necessary for reasons of both easier implementation and economy.
Such projects were:
- Sections of the suburban railway and the subway (METRO) networks, so that they would become operational before the Olympic Games.
- The construction of tunnels in Imittos, following the decisions of the Council of State, and the construction of the “Cut and Cover” sections in the Municipalities of Zefiri, Acharnes, Metamorfosi, Iraklio, Chalandri and Vrilissia, following appeals lodged by the residents before the European Union bodies.
- The various flood protection projects constructed from Mesogeia to Elefsina that have secured the whole Attica Prefecture against floods.
- Arrangements and enlargements at the points of access and entrance to the Attica Tollway.
Milestones
28/02/1995
Submission of tender for the construction of the project
23/05/1996
Signing of the concession contract
16/12/1996
Ratification of the concession contract
06/03/2000
Financial close
19/03/2001
Operation commencement of first motorway section
28/03/2001
Operation commencement of “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens International Airport
24/06/2004
Full completion of the project
13/08/2004
Opening of the Athens Olympic Games
03/2008
e-PASS interoperability with Moreas Motorway
11/2008
e-PASS interoperability with Olympia Odos Motorway
12/2012
e-PASS interoperability with Aegean Motorway
03/2013
e-PASS interoperability with Rio – Antirrio Bridge
12/2014
Founding member of HELLASTRON
11/2020
e-PASS interoperability with Nea Odos, Kentriki Odos and Egantia Odos
Interoperability in the entire Greek Motorway Network