Hi all.....I believe work started last August on the new highway between Corinth and Patras. Has anybody any news about the current progress with the project? Many thanks!

Welcome to the forum. There is some info here http://www.greek-motorway.net/ (http://www.greek-motorway.net/)
A very ambitious project.


163,7 km
830.000.000 Euros
55 Bridges 20m - 2200m
2300 m Tunels
18 Interchanges
28 Digital Information signs
9 Gasoline and Servicestations

Hi all.....I believe work started last August on the new highway between Corinth and Patras. Has anybody any news about the current progress with the project? Many thanks!


The real work has not yet started. But it will very soon. Till now what is happening is repairing existing road which after decades of abandonment from the greek state was in a very bad condition in many parts.

They should start work soon... its shame western Greece (Peloponnese) to have a road in bad shape

Like others said, currently the company planning to build the road, took over operations of the current national highway, and are performing safety upgrades and maintenance. They also patrol the road 24/7 for problems. The real work should be starting soon. I think the Corinth-Patras part should be completed by 2012 is everything is on schedule.

I have some pictures I took in September of some safety and maintenance upgrades (Like signs warning of danger, new guardrails, new asphalt [I think]), that I will upload soon, as well as a pamphlet on the new project that they give out at the tolls from January. (I will scan that soon)

Many thanks to all for the postings so far!

This work is certainly long overdue and will improve journey times and safety.

Of course there is also the outstanding work on the Tripoli-Megalopoli highway still to do in the Southern Peloponnese! I think this was held up after the structural failures near to Paradisio some time ago ? Heaven knows when this will ever be done.....

Many thanks to all for the postings so far!

This work is certainly long overdue and will improve journey times and safety.

Of course there is also the outstanding work on the Tripoli-Megalopoli highway still to do in the Southern Peloponnese! I think this was held up after the structural failures near to Paradisio some time ago ? Heaven knows when this will ever be done.....

The Tripoli-Megalopoli is under construction as we speak...I hope it will be finished in 1-2 years all the way to Kalamata...

Τα συνεργεία της εταιρείας εδώ και αρκετούς μήνες δουλεύουν συνέχεια κυρίως στον τομέα της βελτίωσης του υπάρχοντος δρόμου.
Μεταξύ των ποικίλων βελτιώσεων είναι και οι νέες ασφαλτοστρώσεις σε τμήματα όπου έχουν σημειωθεί πολλά ατυχήματα ή σε τμήματα που το οδόστρωμα ήταν σε κακή κατάσταση.
Η παρακάτω φωτογραφία είναι ένα παράδειγμα νέας ασφαλτόστρωσης (στο βάθος φαίνεται λίγο η γέφυρα).


http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5869/newasphaltolympiaodos1.jpg

It's difficult from the photo to see the surface texture of the road....however it looks quite regular and free from any patching-up.

Like a lot of the asphalt surfaces in Greece, the skid-resistance is often quite low especially in wet conditions. In the UK we have often increased the skid-resistance by shot-blasting and other methods. I believe this was done recently on sections of the Elefnisa/Corinth highway.

Futuregreek this section of the road was like this before :

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6981/highway38jx.jpg

Generally the current road except the bad condition of the asphalt faces other problems too, like bad or non existent road marking, bad signage (traffic signs), destroyed or non existent protective barriers on the sides, plantation that some times was in the road, huge littering problems beside the road etc.

Yes..it looks like there were potholes and some loss of the surface layer. The white-lining was also in a poor condition. The new lining looks much better. Most of the white-lining I see in Greece seems to be just paint and is not very reflective in dark/night conditions. It seems to wear out very quickly too. The lining in the UK is a thermoplastic material containing spherical glass beads and it applied hot at a thickness of around 3mm. I think the lines on the Attiki Odos may be of this type as they look quite good at night.

Nice photos...especially with the Rion-Antirion bridge in the distance.....a bridge to be proud of!

That section looks great. It must have been done recently, because it was not like that in the fall.

Here is a part close to it:
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2168/picture007z.jpg

Some bad asphalt conditions:
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9058/picture239.jpg

Some of the new safety signs put up:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4827/picture2372.jpg
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2750/picture231.jpg

Various work being done:
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1440/picture228.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1700/picture241.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3718/picture244.jpg
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6480/picture235.jpg

Great photos Grk101.....the one of the asphalt surface looks almost as if it has been 'planed-off' to either level it or provide more texture. Nice to see use of good road cones and also visible warning signs. The last photo looks like a serious crane overturn!....any idea what happened there;

That section looks great. It must have been done recently, because it was not like that in the fall.

Thats right, just before 1 month.

Some of the new safety signs put up:

These signs were put before olympia odos take charge of the highway.
Actually thats the only thing that the state did before.

It's difficult from the photo to see the surface texture of the road....however it looks quite regular and free from any patching-up.

Like a lot of the asphalt surfaces in Greece, the skid-resistance is often quite low especially in wet conditions. In the UK we have often increased the skid-resistance by shot-blasting and other methods. I believe this was done recently on sections of the Elefnisa/Corinth highway.

I have discussed the issue of bad asphalt with many engineers in the field and among the other arguments is the bad quality of materials used to make the asphalt in Greece. (there are good materials too but usually the companies who are selected to do the work choose the cheapest)

Most of the white-lining I see in Greece seems to be just paint and is not very reflective in dark/night conditions. It seems to wear out very quickly too. The lining in the UK is a thermoplastic material containing spherical glass beads and it applied hot at a thickness of around 3mm. I think the lines on the Attiki Odos may be of this type as they look quite good at night.

Thats true, again i think its a matter of cost. In most cases like you said they use simple white paint (phosphoric though) but because of low quality and because of the weather conditions in Greece (very hot summers) and the quality of the substrate (the asphalt) it wears out quickly.

In some cases they use some metalic-phosphoric things that are nailed on the asphalt + white lines. Then its much better. For example this road in Patras

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7357/nightroadpatras.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/nightroadpatras.jpg/1/w800.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img145/nightroadpatras.jpg/1/)



The only section with normal highway standards , Patras ring road (and one of the very few roads in Greece that is illuminated during the nights )
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/9480/patrasringroad1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/patrasringroad1.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img16/patrasringroad1.jpg/1/)

Nice photos Skaros.....that's the first use of reflective studs I have seen....it is such a great improvement for night driving. They look like 'stick-on' studs but if they are nailed in as you suggest this would be a better idea as the stick-on type use a bitumen backing which would soften in the 40C+ temperatures you have in Greece.

I have also used the old fashioned 'cat's eyes' ( a steel surround with reflective glass-lens inserts) and the newer 'self-cleaning' glass studs that can be supplied in various colours (for exits, slip roads,road edges etc) These types both need special equipment to core-out the asphalt surface layer to insert the stud into. They are more expensive than 'stick-ons' and are therefore usually fixed at 9m centres. If the road needs planing-out and re-laying they are then a problem as they need costly removal and disposal. The stick-on or nailed-on types could both be planed through with no problems.

A great improvement shown in the Patras By-Pass photo is the use of extruded concrete channels at the road edges. A great aid to surface water drainage and stability of the sides of the road construction. Also the use of street lighting. The concrete central reservation barrier is great too....low maintenance and allows for planting of oleanders etc. We have only in recent years started constructing central barriers such as these in the UK.

I agree about the asphalt quality and performance being affected so much by the stone/aggregate that is used. Many of the rock types used seem to suffer from 'polishing' from traffic....limestone is particularly bad in this respect. We are fortunate in the UK in having a lot of granite and high PSV (Polished Stone Value) rock types such as Gritstone that improve the skid resistance and stability of asphalt mixtures. Some are very expensive in the UK too and some are used only as a surface application to the asphalt and not used in the mixture itself.

It is always tempting to save money in the materials..it costs more in maintenance in the long-term though! (costs of traffic management/closures/traffic disruption/material replacement/labour etc etc!)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4827/picture2372.jpg
oriste?? :ohno:

@thank you future greek :)
Very interesting information about the newer 'self-cleaning' glass studs...
By the way who is the Saint in your avatar?

A great improvement shown in the Patras By-Pass photo is the use of extruded concrete channels at the road edges. A great aid to surface water drainage and stability of the sides of the road construction. Also the use of street lighting. The concrete central reservation barrier is great too....low maintenance and allows for planting of oleanders etc.

Very well said

Typical case of the current road (photo is just few Kms before Rio)

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1354/asphaltpatch1.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=asphaltpatch1.jpg)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/asphaltpatch1.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img18/asphaltpatch1.jpg/1/)

Few things to notice in this photo :

1) The patches
2) the damaged existing asphalt
3) the recently rapaired surface of the opposite current
4) the difference between the old (existing) and the new white lining

Before olympia odos take charge of the road the patches were much worst ("hill" phenomenon) and we had to wait some times for months for a hole to be patched. (that was the interest of our state for its citizens)
At least now the new asphalt is on the same level with the existing one and you dont "feel" it when you drive.

Skaros....my avatar is Saint Polydorus (I believe from Cyprus 3rd September)....I am an amateur iconographer in my spare time! (but this isn't one of mine)

That is a very sharp photograph you have posted!....looks like you got out of the car to take it!

Patching is always difficult to get right....we tend to lay at least 5 meters and usually a full lane width rather than leaving a long joint that may end up on a wheel-track. We sometimes use a 3m metal beam to make sure the difference between the new and old surfaces is not more than 3mm.

The repair has been laid well if you can't feel the joint when going over it....the workmen must have overfilled it by just the right amount and then 'cross-rolled' it carefully! The photo really shows you how bad the white-lines were before this repair was carried out. It is no surprise to me that they wear quickly as they are being constantly trafficked by vehicles such as lorries moving over into the road edges to allow faster vehicle to overtake!

The smaller repair in the distance looks like it is over a drainage culvert (gefyra?)....these are always problem areas with what is usually a concrete structure underneath causing more rigidity and being subjected to heat from the top and underneath..

If it is of any consolation to you, our own government in the UK is also very slow at repairing potholes. After the very bad winter we have had there are now thousands of potholes appearing all over the country!

Here are the scans from the 8 page pamphlet they were giving out at the tolls in January:

(Sorry about the different image sizes. That is a result of either the scanner or the hosting site I guess)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8565/img001a.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6616/img002.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9472/img003p.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/15/img004a.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/s1p185.jpg
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7048/img006a.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9821/img007.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8670/img008.jpg

If anyone wants the combined map from pages 4 & 5, I will try to put it together and post it.

^^

The way it's presented seems so British. lol

Really nice. Now the only major road remaining is the one from Chania to Heraklio. The rest of it. Cause many parts are already done...

Thanks GR101 that is very informative. It looks a very well produced document.....

Welcome to the forum. There is some info here http://www.greek-motorway.net/ (http://www.greek-motorway.net/)


Great informative website. Thanks!

Thanks GrK101... :)

And now...


Works beside the existing road, near the village of Psathopyrgos...
(seems like they are clearing the area in front of the entrance of a tunnel , i dont know if it will be the big one (Panagopoula tunnel)


http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7154/panagopoulaworks1.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panagopoulaworks1.jpg)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3166/panagopoulaworks2.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panagopoulaworks2.jpg)

Side barrier repairing - Signage

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8938/road1olympiaodos.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=road1olympiaodos.jpg)

Nice photos Skaros....it's good to see a start is being made.

Could I ask if there has been any local opposition to the new highway;

It must be providing some employment which will be welcome at this time.

Will the new road be one lane each side with a spare lane like this and no central barrier?:


http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5869/newasphaltolympiaodos1.jpg

If so, I hate driving on roads like this, very dangerous. Even this picture above looks dangerous.

Will the new road be one lane each side with a spare lane like this and no central barrier?

If so, I hate driving on roads like this, very dangerous. Even this picture above looks dangerous.

It will have 2 lanes and a spare safety lane in each direction, with a central barrier I think. The picture you re-posted, is just the current road which was repaved to meet demand until the new road is built.

Thanks for the progress pictures Skaros! It's exciting to finally see some real work. That might be the big tunnel, since its the only tunnel close to there.

I had taken a picture of a tunnel along the road in September, (I forget where exactly though) but it turns out it was for a train tunnel. Hopefully this new work is for the road and not the train.

Skaros....my avatar is Saint Polydorus (I believe from Cyprus 3rd September)....I am an amateur iconographer in my spare time! (but this isn't one of mine)

That is a very sharp photograph you have posted!....looks like you got out of the car to take it!

Patching is always difficult to get right....we tend to lay at least 5 meters and usually a full lane width rather than leaving a long joint that may end up on a wheel-track. We sometimes use a 3m metal beam to make sure the difference between the new and old surfaces is not more than 3mm.

The repair has been laid well if you can't feel the joint when going over it....the workmen must have overfilled it by just the right amount and then 'cross-rolled' it carefully! The photo really shows you how bad the white-lines were before this repair was carried out. It is no surprise to me that they wear quickly as they are being constantly trafficked by vehicles such as lorries moving over into the road edges to allow faster vehicle to overtake!

The smaller repair in the distance looks like it is over a drainage culvert (gefyra?)....these are always problem areas with what is usually a concrete structure underneath causing more rigidity and being subjected to heat from the top and underneath..

If it is of any consolation to you, our own government in the UK is also very slow at repairing potholes. After the very bad winter we have had there are now thousands of potholes appearing all over the country!

Nice to Know future greek, you can post in another thread some photos of your paintings! :)
It was a bridge under the second patch , and it is like you said.. are you in the engineering field? You seem to know very well such things!

Thanks for telling about the situation in UK, some times we tend to think here in greece that in other countries the things are ideal!

The non existent maintenance of roads (and other major public works) is something very typical in Greece anyway...

It will have 2 lanes and a spare safety lane in each direction, with a central barrier I think. The picture you re-posted, is just the current road which was repaved to meet demand until the new road is built.

Thanks for the progress pictures Skaros! It's exciting to finally see some real work. That might be the big tunnel, since its the only tunnel close to there.

I had taken a picture of a tunnel along the road in September, (I forget where exactly though) but it turns out it was for a train tunnel. Hopefully this new work is for the road and not the train.


Grk101 well i am not 100% sure but since the entrance of the tunnel is somewhere there and since there is no other major construction in the area, it has to be that.
I have seen trucks and personnel from one company who is in the construction group (JP-Avax).
The other tunnel that you mentioned is like we said in another thread the railway tunnel of Aigio.
The important thing is like you emphasized that FINALLY we see some real work and not just upgrade procedures of the existing road.

Quote.....Nice to Know future greek, you can post in another thread some photos of your paintings!
It was a bridge under the second patch , and it is like you said.. are you in the engineering field? You seem to know very well such things!

Skaros....I have photos of two of the icons I have painted. I will find somewhere on the site to post them.

You are correct!...I am employed in civil engineering , mostly on highways, airports and large industrial developments mainly in the role of Health and Safety.

I am very impressed with Greece's new roads....the signs are better than here in the UK! I drive the Attiki Odos to Tripoli section quite often and this is so much safer and faster now.

no my friend.the connection between heraklion-chania must be much better.nothing is done.a motorway must be built.but as we both know,greece under isthmos,is an "other" greece.peloponnisos and crete looks similar with southern italia and sicilia.forgotten and somehow abandoned...its not a point of luck that V.O.A.K and the part of P.A.TH.E under isthmos are both in tragical condition,when other parts of country have many kilometres of motorways...

^^

Yep. Πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να φτιαχτεί η εθνική οδός στην Κρήτη. Έχουν γίνει μόνο τα κομμάτια που ανέλαβαν οι ίδιοι οι δήμοι των πόλεων στα περίχωρα αυτών. Όλο το υπόλοιπο κομμάτι από Σούδα μέχρι λίγο πρίν το Ρέθυμνο και από κάμποσα χιλιόμετρα μετά από το Ρέθυμνο μέχρι λίγο πριν το Ηράκλειο είναι αν όχι σε πολύ άσχημη κατάσταση σε κακή.

Ελπίζω μετά από τα Νοσοκομεία τα λιμάνια και τα αεροδρόμια να έχουν σειρά οι δρόμοι.

A bit off the subject but this photo I took near Kalo Nero always makes me smile.....the lady supervisor inspecting the hot asphalt in her sandals!


http://i41.tinypic.com/eb97w2.jpg

@thanks you future_greek, so as a specialist in the field i think that we all would appreciate your thoughts and comments during the construction period of this road! :)
And some "fresh" news :


Latest newsletter of "Olympia Odos" and some good news! :cheers:
Official announcement : Work on the first 4 tunnels has begun!

Those tunnels are between Aegio and Ksylokastro, on the east border of Achaia, as you can see on the map.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1516/olymp2.jpg (http://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?image=olymp2.jpg)


http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/6388/olymp1.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?image=olymp1.jpg)

Preparatory works in Panagopoula (where the biggest tunnel will be built)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7154/panagopoulaworks1.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panagopoulaworks1.jpg)

What great news! Its a relief to see things actually being pushed through, especially on a road we don't get much information/updates about.

At last!...nice to see the first 4 tunnels under preparatory construction....in comparison, here in the UK we have a lot of highway schemes 'on hold' due to the current economic situation. I think its time to jump on a plane to Athens and look for a job on this great contract!

Future_greek you are welcome! :) Why dont you come? :)

Anyway back to some pics...

New asphalt on some parts of the existing road

1) Section Patras K1 Interchange (with ring road) - Rio toll post

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/2913/olympiaodosnewasphaltri.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=olympiaodosnewasphaltri.jpg)

Near drepano

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6961/newasphaltff.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=newasphaltff.jpg)


2) Drilling rig on the (recently (2008) devastated from forest fires) hills of Panagopoula

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2581/gewtrisipanagopoula.jpg (http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gewtrisipanagopoula.jpg)


3) Earthworks in Panagopoula region (in a different place from that shown in previous photos)

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9215/ergapanagopoulass.jpg (http://img513.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ergapanagopoulass.jpg)

The existing road when it rains :

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9020/dangerousroad.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dangerousroad.jpg)

Its obvious how dangerous it is to drive under such conditions on such a bad road.
Its very typical to see trucks and buses trying to overpass even when they have very low visibility.
Also a major problem (that still exist even with the new asphalt) is the very low visibility when there is another vehicle in front.
The water that it throws is so much that in some cases you cant even see in a distance longer than few meters.
This is not the case in some very small parts of teh road where there is a more "rough surface" (that was asphalted before some years). I dont know why "olympia odos" does not use the same asphalt materials for the new parts.

Skaros....couldn't view your photos for some reason but can relate to your comments on the situation during heavy rain. I think a lot is due to the 'polishing' of the road surface and the larger stone aggregates in the mix by traffic especially during the summer months. In Holland and Germany they use a 'ZOAB' material (Zehr Open Asphaltic Beton) that drains water away quickly....there are problems during the winter months however with freezing ice. In the UK we have 'porous asphalt' which is a single sized aggregate mix but more commonly seen is 'SMA' (Stone Mastic Asphalt) which is not so single-sized, has stone of a very high 'PSV' (Polished Stone Value) and often uses a polymer modified binder (Bitume). This produces a 'texture depth' of between 1,5 and 2mm which produces a lot less spray from traffic once the surface bitumen has oxidised and worn a little. I'm sure that I have seen sections of this on the Attiki Odos but I may be mistaken...

Skaros....have seen your photos now...they took a while to load ! The spray is terrible....it would help if the trucks used those fibre-mats on their mudflaps as these reduce the spray a lot!

Χρόνια πολλά σε όλους παιδιά και καλό φθινόπωρο!

I think its time for an update! :)

iSthmos toll post

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/2835/tollpostnearisthmusofco.jpg (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/tollpostnearisthmusofco.jpg/)

Old asphalt in the section between Corinth and Xylokastro

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4844/oldasphalt1.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/oldasphalt1.jpg/)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3826/oldasphalt2.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/oldasphalt2.jpg/)

New asphalt in the same section

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/8960/newasphaltsectioncorint.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/newasphaltsectioncorint.jpg/)

Its summer and the waters of corinth gulf are welcoming the thousands of visitors... here is a typical photo of some coastal villages of the north coast of Peloponnese

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9259/beautifulcoast.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/beautifulcoast.jpg/)

"Mavra litharia tunnel" close to the town of Derveni and on the border of Achaia and Corinthia

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/9044/mavralithariatunnel.jpg (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/mavralithariatunnel.jpg/)

The beautiful coast one more time (i think that it is the town of Aigeira)


http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/3433/aigeira.jpg (http://img188.imageshack.us/i/aigeira.jpg/)

The only section between Corinth and Patras that allready since the 70s is a divided highway

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7268/nearakrata.jpg (http://img197.imageshack.us/i/nearakrata.jpg/)

"Platanos tunnel" near the town of Akrata

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5167/platanostunnel.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/platanostunnel.jpg/)

Great photos Skaros.......I'm visiting the area this week (24/09) for 9 days heading down to south of Kalamata....going to go the long way round via Patras and Kalo Nero so will get some photos as well as a job if I'm lucky!

Indeed, great photos @Skaros

Thank you guys! :)
Here is an update :


Panagopoula region, as a side effect of the construction of the new highway is the cut of many pine trees (the few left in the area after the tens of forest fires that devastated the forests of panagopoula the last decade)

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7925/panagopoulacuttrees.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/i/panagopoulacuttrees.jpg/)

Panagopoula tunnel (between Patras and Aegion) / November 2009

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5203/panagopoulatunnel1.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/i/panagopoulatunnel1.jpg/)

Nice updates indeed Skaros :)

I drove in December at the road from Kotinthos to Patras & I have taken this photo of the roadworks.

http://yfrog.com/jpp1010269cjj

The first roadworks:
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9981/fotofrscyskraper.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/fotofrscyskraper.jpg/)

^^ I cannot see the photo, Fentura

I've taken a photo from the road Korinth-Patras and it worked with photoshop



The exist road now:
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/7516/lolvu.jpg (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/lolvu.jpg/)



The road in the future:
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3636/olympiaodosfinishkopie.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/olympiaodosfinishkopie.jpg/)

^^

Δηλαδή αυτός ο δρόμος το βράδυ θα είναι σκοτεινός???

^^

Δηλαδή αυτός ο δρόμος το βράδυ θα είναι σκοτεινός???

I don´t know the design of the new road, but I have a version of the picture with lights:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5863/olympiaodosfinish.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/olympiaodosfinish.jpg/)

Olympia odos: that road will have 2x3 lanes in each direction, or 2x2 lanes?

Olympia odos: that road will have 2x3 lanes in each direction, or 2x2 lanes?

2x2.

I think there was some debate on this before work started. Some officials wanted 3x3 to be prepared for the future, but they were hitting a snag with contractors (or something like that) which caused delays. Finally they settled for 2x2. If someone has more information on this, it would be helpful.

I think it's 2x2 but this is soooo stupid! 3x3 is a need now, so imagine what a need will it be in the future

it will be 2+1x2+1 (the 1 is the auxiliary lane)

I dont understand why the drivers in Greece drive on the Emergency Lane at a highway...
I thought the Lane would only be for emergencies, like here in Germany.
Has anyone an Idea?

I dont understand why the drivers in Greece drive on the Emergency Lane at a highway...
I thought the Lane would only be for emergencies, like here in Germany.
Has anyone an Idea?

The only reason (i am not talking about the drivers who do this illegally) is that in some roads like the Corinth-Patras existing national road the width is so small that it is impossible to overpass e.g. a big truck if the truck does not go more right (and so driving on the "emergency lane".
The emergency lane is actually not existent in roads that they are not divided highways!

Ok Thanks Skaros !

A good example of what Skaros refers to is shown this picture. Without using this 'hard strip' Fentura, nobody would make any headway on roads such as these....it looks dangerous but in practice it works pretty well as most drivers are watching for anything stationary or very slow moving (such as agricultural vehicles/tractors) in this strip. http://i49.tinypic.com/2mr9toz.jpg

The other end of the Olympia Odos......advance works for the Tsakona section that also leads North towards Tripoli from Kalamata.

http://i46.tinypic.com/15mb7v6.jpg


And a shot of the long awaited re-commencement of construction on the Paradisio-Tripoli section north of Kalamata and the Tsakona intersection.

http://i45.tinypic.com/20zz9zo.jpg

The other end of the Olympia Odos......advance works for the Tsakona section that also leads North towards Tripoli from Kalamata.

http://i46.tinypic.com/15mb7v6.jpg


And a shot of the long awaited re-commencement of construction on the Paradisio-Tripoli section north of Kalamata and the Tsakona intersection.

http://i45.tinypic.com/20zz9zo.jpg

The government has started the expropriation of lands along Kalo Nero to Tsakona. How long between this process and the actual contruction of the road??

From the contract start date on the Corinth-Patras-Pirgos section I believe the last Kalo Nero-Tsakona section is to begin approximately 4.5yrs in and be finished by year 6. I am unsure of the precise contract start date as preparatory works started some time in late 2008. It certainly looks like a few years work before the final section is started for sure. I imagine land purchasing will already have begun...it certainly looks that way at the Tsakona end at the moment....at the Kalo Nero end and up to Pirgos I havn't seen any obvious activity.

Thanks Future Greek for posting.
The road marking on greek roads are only painted.
Why they do not use equipment, wich apply a layer??
Here in Germany they use "Ziehschuh" for Road markings:
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7323/ziehschuh.jpg (http://img191.imageshack.us/i/ziehschuh.jpg/)

^^

I actually have the same question too! The same material is used in the UK and France as well... Is it expensive in comparison to the other road raw materials?

If I had to guess though, I would think of the high temperatures during summer time that might be a factor... I do not know for sure though...

p.s. I did some search and it is actually a thermoplastic material.

Yes you are correct touristas.....it is a thermoplastic material that can be 'screeded' onto the surface (using a metal plate with a gap usually to produce a 3mm minimum thickness) in various widths to produce central and edge lines. It is applied hot (approx 200c) and safety precautions must be taken by the workers involved.

It can also be applied by hand screed to produce arrows, chevrons and lettering. It is also possible to spray the material (with the correct very expensive machinery) in which case spherical glass beads (ballotini) are then applied to the surface to provide reflectivity. Normal 'whitelining' in the UK contains clear binder/resin, titanium dioxide (reflective/white) plus fillers and spherical glass beads. It is also supplied in yellow for parking restriction lining. Its softening point is relatively low and it is costly. There are standards for reflectivity in the UK that I doubt exist in Greece.

For lateral (edge) lining 'vibline' is often installed which is applied by the spray method and produces a 'ridge' about 3cm long and the width of the line with a thickness of about 10mm. This produces a distinct vibration in the driver's steering wheel that can warn him/her that he/she has gone over the edge of the lane into the 'hard-shoulder'/safety lane/hard strip.