Prime Minister Mitsotakis on Tuesday morning attended a special event organised near the tunnel of Orthris, ahead of the delivery on Tuesday afternoon of the two remaining sections of the E65 motorway traversing Central Greece. He was briefed by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras on the technical features of the project, as well as on the timetable for the construction of the last 46-kilometre section from Kalambaka to the Egnatia Odos motorway.
The premier underlined the value of the project for boosting growth, noting that "today is an important day, as we are delivering a motorway of great developmental significance." He commented that these projects would not have been done without the help of the European Union, adding: "New Democracy put the country in the European Union, kept it in the European Union and labours within Europe".
Mitsotakis also pointed out that "we are tying up the loose ends from the past. In 2019 we had promised work sites throughout the country and today these work sites are slowly starting to deliver finished public works to the citizens".
"Today is a very important day for Central Greece, for Thessaly, for Western Macedonia and for Epirus as we deliver to the public a section of a very important motorway" the prime minister said at an event for the delivery of the E65 section to Kalambaka. He underlined that from now on the distance from Athens to Karditsa will be covered in just two and a half hours, while that to Trikala in three hours, adding that the new road will provide great relief for sorely tested areas.
With the delivery of the two new sections, Central Greece will acquire a modern and safe 136-kilometre motorway that will reduce traffic and make the journey to Karpenissi, Karditsa, Trikala, Meteora and Limni Plastira (Plastira Lake) easier.
The first of the two sections being delivered on Tuesday extends from Lamia to Xyniada (18.5 km) and includes the tunnels traversing Mount Orthris, while the second 25-kilometre section extends from Trikala to Kalambaka. As was noted during the event, the total length of the E65 will be 182.1 km, while its total budget is roughly 1.3 billion euros.