Some "fresh" photos and information :


The so called in Greece "Ethniki Odos" which is actually the fast road connecting Korinthos (and Athens ) with Patras (third largest city of Greece ) by following the coast of all north Peloponnisos.
The road has ~12-14m width ( with the exception of 20kms between Diakofto and Akrata where it is normal highway ) and it was constructed in the 1960s.

Today it is completely inadequate because of the heavily increased traffic between Athens and Patras , but mainly because of the thousands of trucks
who use the road after arriving/leaving from the port of Patras.

This photo is taken 20Km before arriving to Patras , at a region named "panagopoula". This part is very nice (like also many other parts of the road) because of the beautiful view to the Corinth gulf sea and the coastal villages.
On the right is Korinth Gulf and on the left the mountains of north Peloponnese.
http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/8489/highway14nf.jpg


After few kms and before we see on our right hand the village of Agios Vassilios we have a first view of the Rio-Antirio bridge...
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9357/highway28gc.jpg

and soon we see the whole bridge appearing in the background...
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6981/highway38jx.jpg

after arriving at the Rio toll post (2,5 euro only from Patras to Korinthos direction) , we have two options , to follow the right way which drives us to the bridge (10 euro toll ) and the port of Rio :

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/2338/highway92np.jpg

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6897/highway104ru.jpg

If we continue without turning right to Rio we have again 2 options , to go straight into the city or to take the ring-road highway .
The peripheral highway of Patras was delivered in 2002 after 15 (!!!) years of constructions,delays etc.
It is 18Km long with 4 exits/interchanges and it really helped a lot the city to breath (because all the traffic that was coming from neighboring regions had to pass from the center of the city i.e. Olympia ).
One of the reasons of the big delays in the construction of the road was the very unusual problems that appeared because of the unstable ground and the geological conditions of the area.
There are 6 double tunnels (the longest 1,5 Km) and the road is completely controlled through hundreds of cameras. Also it is iluminated for better driving conditions in the night.

View from inside of one of the tunnels.
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/1382/highway41ze.jpg

before the last and lognest tunnel , driving over a valley-bridge
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/6207/highway57eu.jpg

driving out of the last tunnel . On the background (right side , on a hill) we can see the installations of the famous Achaia Clauss wine factory (producing the famous red sweet wine "Mavrodafni" - see the thread of Patras fro photos)
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/9774/highway62br.jpg

http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/505/highway74je.jpg

http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/310/highway80rv.jpg

Very nice pics Skaros :okay:

Magnificent bridge

Fantasic pics Skaros....it has been a long long time since i 've been around these areas

..the bridge looks magnificent...

I wonder did the government plan on the fact that the bridge sees more traffic transiting this stretch of road? This area needs a proper highway. In addition to the normal Patra-Athens traffic, you have as Skaros said, the port adding to the truck traffic, as well as people who are using the bridge from sterea and dytiki Ellada.

Great photos!!! Nice job, Skaros :okay:

I've been on that stretch of road, as recently as a few months ago and they definitely need to do something about it. It is scenic and pretty but still it is very dangerous in certain areas of the highway! But the government does have plans to build new highway.

Παιδιά σας ευχαριστώ για τα καλά σας λόγια. :)
Συμφωνώ με Προμηθέα και Cherry σε ότι αφορά την κατασκευή του νέου αυτοκινητοδρόμου που είναι πλέον επιτακτική.

nice, the vue of the bridge is fantastic !!