Highways

A2 Egnatia Odos (Igoumenitsa – Kipoi)

Greece's longest motorway, 670 km from the port of Igoumenitsa to the Turkish border at Kipoi by way of Ioannina, Kozani, Veria, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupoli. Construction officially began in 1994, and the state company Egnatia Odos A.E. took over the project in February 1997; the main axis was inaugurated on 30 May 2009 and the last structure, the Peristeri bridge near Metsovo, carried traffic from 10 May 2014. It has two lanes and a hard shoulder per direction, three between Kleidi and Derveni. Lots follow the section-by-section opening table in Greek Wikipedia; three of its lengths (Derveni – Nymfopetra, Megali Volvi – Rentina and Strymonas – Agios Andreas) are corrected from the contemporary reports it cites. The lots sum to about 642 km. The 25 km Kleidi – Kalochori stretch is shared with the A1 motorway and is not recorded as a lot here. The operator gives completion costs per region, excluding VAT and without a price year: Epirus (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km) about EUR 2.2 billion, Western Macedonia (Panagia – Polymylos, 110 km) EUR 933 million, Central Macedonia (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km) EUR 1,298 million and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km) EUR 1,042 million. Only the Kastania bypass has a published per-section cost.

Total length: 642 km
Open today: 642 km
Sections: 36

Sections

Sections of A2 Egnatia Odos (Igoumenitsa – Kipoi): status, length, dates, cost, funding and contractors
Sections	Status	Length	Timeline	Cost	Funding	Contractors	Contract terms
Igoumenitsa Port – Neochori The Vasilikos tunnel on this section was completed in 1996; the section opened in 2004. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	23 km	Aug 2004Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Neochori – Eleftherochori Completed the Igoumenitsa – Ioannina stretch. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	9 km	Nov 13, 2008Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Eleftherochori – Tyria First section of the motorway to open in Thesprotia. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	18 km	2002Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Tyria – Dodoni In April 2009 tunnel S2 at Tyria was still outstanding, expected by the end of that year (Makedonia, 8 April 2009). 1 2 5 Show on map →	Opened	10 km	Nov 2006Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Dodoni – Pedini Includes the twin-tube Dodoni tunnel, 3.3 km per bore. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	4 km	2005Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Pedini – Ioannina 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	4 km	2003Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Ioannina – Arachthos Bridge Runs from the Ioannina interchange to the western end of the Arachthos bridge. Includes the Driskos tunnel, 4.5 km per bore and the longest on the motorway, whose construction began in 2001. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	20 km	Jun 18, 2008Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Arachthos Bridge The bridge is 1,036 m long and the longest on the motorway. Only the carriageway towards Kipoi opened on 8 April 2009; the other followed later in 2009 (Makedonia expected July, Greek Wikipedia gives the end of the year). Construction began in 2006. 1 2 5 Show on map →	Opened	1 km	2006Construction start Apr 8, 2009Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Arachthos – Peristeri Opened without the Peristeri bridge. That 900 m sub-section, from the Demati tunnel exit to bridge T9–T11, was finished last: its left carriageway opened on 10 May 2014, after which Egnatia Odos A.E. reported traffic running without restriction over the whole 670 km. 1 2 6 10 Show on map →	Opened	9 km	Jan 13, 2009Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Peristeri – Metsovo 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	9 km	Feb 23, 2006Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Metsovo – Panagia One bore each of the Metsovo and Malakasi A tunnels had carried traffic towards Ioannina since 1994, to national-road standard. The 2009 works added the second bores. The section has six tunnels, the longest being Metsovo at 3,550 m, and the Metsovitikos bridge, with piers 110 m high and a 235 m span. 1 2 5 Show on map →	Opened	15 km	Apr 8, 2009Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered part of the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Panagia – Venetikos Last section of the main axis, opened at a ceremony on the Venetikos bridge near Grevena on 30 May 2009. In 2003 Panagia – Grevena was outside the funded programme and alternative financing was being studied. 1 2 3 4 Show on map →	Opened	31 km	May 30, 2009Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Western Macedonia section (Panagia – Polymylos, 110 km): national and EU funds through the 2nd CSF OP Accesses and Road Axes and the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes, Ports, Urban Development. No per-section split. National budget	–	–
Venetikos – Grevena East Grevena bypass. 1 2 9 Show on map →	Opened	13 km	Sep 7, 2007Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Western Macedonia section (Panagia – Polymylos, 110 km): national and EU funds through the 2nd CSF OP Accesses and Road Axes and the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes, Ports, Urban Development. No per-section split. National budget	–	–
Grevena East – Siatista East Includes the Taxiarchis tunnel. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	18 km	Apr 2001Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Western Macedonia section (Panagia – Polymylos, 110 km): national and EU funds through the 2nd CSF OP Accesses and Road Axes and the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes, Ports, Urban Development. No per-section split. National budget	–	–
Siatista East – Kozani 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	24 km	Jul 2000Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Western Macedonia section (Panagia – Polymylos, 110 km): national and EU funds through the 2nd CSF OP Accesses and Road Axes and the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes, Ports, Urban Development. No per-section split. National budget	–	–
Kozani – Polymylos 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	22 km	Mar 2001Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Western Macedonia section (Panagia – Polymylos, 110 km): national and EU funds through the 2nd CSF OP Accesses and Road Axes and the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes, Ports, Urban Development. No per-section split. National budget	–	–
Polymylos – Veria (Kastania bypass) Crosses the Vermio mountains between Western and Central Macedonia, with twin-tube tunnels of 7 km per bore and bridges of 1.4 km per carriageway. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	26 km	Dec 20, 2004Opened	Actual €485MVAT not included. Construction cost of the Kastania bypass as stated by Egnatia Odos A.E.; price year not stated.	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Veria – Kouloura Upgrade of the existing road, completed as a national road in 1987, with a second carriageway added. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	9 km	Sep 2001Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Kouloura – Kleidi Contract 6.0: a second carriageway and central reserve, 25.14 km, beside the existing 13.5 m single carriageway from Kleidi to Kouloura, built 11/2000 to 06/2003. The builder gives the contract value as 15,164.46 million drachma (EUR 44.50 million at 340.75 GRD per euro), without a signing date or VAT treatment. Greek Wikipedia gives the section as 26 km. 1 2 7 Show on map →	Opened	25 km	Nov 2000Construction start Jun 2003Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	AEGEK – Techniki Olympiaki – EKTER – Evropaiki Techniki JVBuilder	–
Kalochori – Efkarpia Thessaloniki outer ring road. Part of the six-lane Kleidi – Thessaloniki – Derveni stretch. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	15 km	Aug 2004Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Efkarpia – Derveni Part of the six-lane Kleidi – Thessaloniki – Derveni stretch. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	3 km	Feb 2000Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Derveni – Nymfopetra The Prime Minister opened 30 km of this section on 7 September 2003; the remaining 2 km, through the Derveni narrows, were due in December 2003. Greek Wikipedia's table gives 41 km. 1 2 8 Show on map →	Opened	32 km	Dec 2003Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Nymfopetra – Megali Volvi 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	8 km	Sep 2006Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Megali Volvi – Rentina Completed the Central Macedonia section. Length from the ministry's announcement of the opening; Greek Wikipedia's table gives 3 km. 1 2 9 Show on map →	Opened	15 km	Sep 7, 2007Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Rentina – Asprovalta 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	8 km	Sep 2006Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Asprovalta – Strymonas 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	22 km	2005Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Strymonas – Agios Andreas Runs 41 km on the inland alignment from the Strymonas river to the start of the Kavala bypass, replacing the coastal national road. Greek Wikipedia's table gives 9 km, the length of Arachthos – Chrysovitsa in the same 2009 announcement. 1 2 10 Show on map →	Opened	41 km	Jan 13, 2009Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Agios Andreas – Agios Syllas (Kavala bypass) Construction of the Kavala bypass began in 1985 as part of national road 2; it was taken into the Egnatia axis in the 1990s, before completion. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	14 km	1985Construction start Aug 2000Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Agios Syllas – Aspri Ammos (Kavala bypass) Construction of the Kavala bypass began in 1985 as part of national road 2; it was taken into the Egnatia axis in the 1990s, before completion. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	12 km	1985Construction start Apr 3, 2001Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Aspri Ammos – Chrysoupoli 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	19 km	2003Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Chrysoupoli – Vaniano Crosses the Nestos wetlands, protected under the Ramsar Convention. Built under two contracts: Chrysoupoli – Paradeisos (10 km) opened in August 2007; the second contract, signed in May 2006, built the Nestos bridge and the last 7 km to Vaniano, which opened on 13 January 2009 and completed the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section. In 2003 the Nestos crossing was outside the funded programme and alternative financing was being studied. 1 2 3 10 Show on map →	Opened	17 km	Jan 13, 2009Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Vaniano – Komotini West 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	47 km	Jun 30, 2002Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Komotini West – Mesti (Komotini bypass) 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	31 km	Apr 2001Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Mesti – Makri Built before 1994 as a national road; upgraded with a second carriageway. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	17 km	2008Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Makri – Alexandroupoli Industrial Area 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	20 km	2002Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–
Alexandroupoli Industrial Area – Kipoi Ends at the Kipoi customs post on the Turkish border. 1 2 Show on map →	Opened	31 km	Apr 2001Opened	–	European UnionOperator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split. European Union LoanEIB loans covered the national contribution. National budget	–	–

Contractor roles are as recorded in the award. Only builders count toward the delivery rankings.

Funding

European Union891 km
46 sections
- Operator statement for the whole Epirus section (Igoumenitsa – Panagia, 123 km): national and EU funds (50%) under the 2nd and 3rd Community Support Frameworks (OP-RAPUD and the Epirus regional OP), and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split.
- Operator statement for the whole Western Macedonia section (Panagia – Polymylos, 110 km): national and EU funds through the 2nd CSF OP Accesses and Road Axes and the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes, Ports, Urban Development. No per-section split.
- Operator statement for the whole Central Macedonia section (Polymylos – Strymonas, 191 km): the 3rd CSF OP Road Axes and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split.
- Operator statement for the whole Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section (Strymonas – Kipoi, 246 km): OPs of the 2nd and 3rd CSF (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. No per-section split.
National budget642 km
36 sections
Loan534 km
31 sections
- EIB loans covered part of the national contribution.
- EIB loans covered the national contribution.

A section that lists two sources counts its full length under each: the data records which sources paid, not what share each one carried.

Related projects

Sources

Figures last checked against their sources in Sep 28, 2026.