The traffic problem is the dominant challenge in Attica with its approximately 3 million vehicles. The increased cost of transportation, stress, fatigue and significant delays on the roads have become a daily phenomenon. Traffic congestion requires multi-level actions and targeted interventions to address it.
Read: Traffic “labyrinth” in Attica: The major road projects on the table and the key roads
Immediate interventions on Attiki Odos for traffic
The need for immediate action to address the traffic problem was recently emphasized by GEK TERNA’s president and CEO, Giorgos Peristeris. The company has prepared proposals for targeted interventions on Attiki Odos to improve traffic flow. The interventions being examined by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in cooperation with the new concessionaire involve constructing two exits at the Metamorfosis junction towards the national highway. The two exits will separate vehicle traffic according to their direction towards the Athens-Lamia national highway.
Kifisias Avenue extension for traffic relief
A substantial solution to traffic congestion will come from the extension of Kifisias Avenue, one of the most critical road projects for the Athens basin. The project has been planned for years with the goal of decongesting the traffic-saturated Metamorfosis junction on Attiki Odos and the road axis starting from Kifisias Avenue. According to forecasts, the new axis is expected to serve approximately 30,000 vehicles daily on average. The journey will take just a few minutes, while today it requires up to 40 minutes, without tolls.
However, by the end of 2025, the Council of State’s decision is expected regarding the Municipality of Heraklion’s appeal concerning the extension of Kifisias Avenue to the Kaliftaki junction. A decisive obstacle remains funding, as the project was tendered without secured resources. In the latest tender with a budget of 435 million euros, the TERNA AKTOR consortium was declared the provisional lowest bidder.
Major Attiki Odos extensions
Three major extensions of Attiki Odos that will contribute to solving traffic congestion are awaiting decisions:
- The Ilioupoli tunnel, the most significant road intervention in the capital, which includes the rapid connection of Elliniko with the Airport and the northern suburbs
- The extension towards Rafina that will cover Eastern Attica
- The extension towards Lavrio that will close the chapter of Attiki Odos development for the next 20 years
For these projects, a model proposal has been submitted by the GEK TERNA AVAX AKTOR Concessions consortium. Additionally, a model proposal from GEK TERNA has been submitted for the new 45-kilometer Elefsina-Oinofyta axis, which promises an Attica bypass by transferring a large portion of Kifissos traffic.
Skaramanga triple junction: Critical decongestion project
The Skaramanga Triple Junction is entering its final phase, one of the most critical road projects for addressing the capital’s traffic problem. The preparation of tender documents begins for the project that will connect crucial points of the Athens basin. The Triple Junction will connect the Western Ring Road of Aigaleo with Attiki Odos, the national highway and Schistou Avenue, addressing chronic bottlenecks on Kifissos and the connection to Thriasio and Piraeus.
