Greece Interstate 8A
Greece Interstate 8A is a toll freeway running from Kifissou some from Skaramangas, outside athend to northeast of Patras, that once had two-lanes running for 70% of the freeway 45 km, now its 45%, 105 km, Patras-Rhion, Longos-Selimantika interchange, Aegion, Platanos to Akrata, Xylokastron interchange, Kiato interchange, Corinth to Kiphissou Ave, originally GR Interstate 7 interchange, East Corinth to south of Loutraki, north of Kineta to Kineta interchange and east Kakia Skala, Megara to Neos Peramos (Megali Pefko), Eleusis to Kifissou Ave. The freeway starts from Aspropyrgos to Patras, the remainder is a highway. The length was 215 km, now its 207 km. by a new beltway, a highway bypassing Patras It runs for E94 from Kifissou Ave in Athens to southwest of Corinth, E65 from Corinth to Rhion interchange, and E55 from Rhion to north of Patras. It was first opened in the 1960s. It was under construction from 1993 to 1997. And in Kakia Skala 2001 to around 2004. There are 4 tolls, originally there were 4 toll exits, but they are shut down in the present day: Eleusis Toll booth, Isthmia toll booth, Corinth toll Booth, and Rhion toll booth at the 205th km. This highway at Kakia Skala will serve until a new bridge linking Rhion and Antirrhion as the only road connecting the entire Peloponnese peninsula and the Greek mainland. 2 to 4 lanes with the only 2 roads. History will change course making the eastern link from the peninsula to the mainland. This will eliminate much of the ferry service since oil carriers and oil vehicles will not be permitted, This bridge is done by a French architect. Several strikes came to crisis in Rhion which would make traffic congestion to a worse as traffic for Epirus may have a strong influence. Construction and reconstruction and renovations had made an influence on traffic congestion in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 (except Kakia Skala) and again in 2002, 2003 and 2004 with a high-speed rail and tunnel scheduled to open by 2004 at Kakia Skala. It caused road closures. Its length is almost over 7 years, 5 from 1993-1996, and 2 in 2002-2004 excluding the high-speed railway projects. One area was the Corinth Refinery, due to fumes, the freeway goes away from the refinery, to its north. That section opened in September, 1994. There is some other road connecting the peninsula and mainland NE of Loutraki but mostly graveled and serves routes from Thebes to Loutraki not as a main route. Lighting began for route west of Akrata interchange in the late-1980s. The last lighting project of that area was done at the northernmost point of the peninsula. The remainder continued west of Athens on a 6-lane freeway.In late-January, protesters blocked both old highway and freeway by puuting guardrails over them. Milk was even spilled. Tractors are parkes on sides of the superhighway. This paralyze traffic from Western Greece and Athens. The location is where the old highway meets with an underpass over the freeway.
There have been road blockage near Aegion where protersters demanded more money to meet with the highest standards, cause protests and some sign damages. Another round of olive oil? protesters burnt bushes and pulled over to block the entire freeway. It even took the 172nd km post sign as well. This one was east of the interchange. Both the old highway and the freeway remain closed. It happened on February 4, 2004. A day later, much of the bushes have been burnt. Protesters never stopped. Trucks are parked on both sides of the superhighway.
In the afternoon, protesters and farmers were on the old highway, and also set fire blocking the entire route. The police marched to the protestors, and were somewhere in a factory close by to a gas station. A battle between farmers and cops began in the olive fields off Aígio. Stones were being thrown at the shielded officers. Trucks were also parked on the side of the old highway.
Smoke became darker as protesters continue to block the entire road. Late-afternoon, bulldozers were removing ashes from the bushes, and firefighters were spraying out the fire in order to reopen the freeway to traffic again. Remnants of bushes were taken to a nearby landfill.
February 19, 2004, Round III of riots began north of Exit 172 of GR-8A, and east the 147th exit. Farmers still demanded more money and better improvements. Around the afternoon, farmers were throwing rocks at police officers. This one lasted about 30 minutes. A small toilet container was tossed into the embankment at the eastbound lanes and caused minor damages. Later at night, it became extremely violent. Police were running to fight off protesters. This had cause several casualties, most of them were hit in the head. Police officers headed to a nearby tavern where protesters were being locked in. Tear gas were reported, but riots continued throughout the night. The freeway and the highway in Aigiera and Aigion were closed.
Here are the complete listings of marking of the 8A, Patras-Corinth, Corinth-Athens Road, also Athens-Patras New National Road, posts are marked going west, the defunct routes means they are no longer operable by the federal government.:
| Kilometre | Features, Interchanges, Junctions | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | easternmost point of E94 | |
| 5 | Thevon Avenue Interchange | |
| 27 | Theba-Eleuthriae Interchange, now cloverleaf | |
| 28 | Athens Tollway (spur) junction, opens in 2004 | |
| 30 | Eleusis toll booth | |
| 35 | Neos Peramos Interchange | |
| 42 | Megara/Old National Road (GR8) Interchange (westbound cloverleaf) | |
| 43 | Megara Rest Area, opened 1999 | |
| 44 | Megara-Pachi Interchange (cloverleaf) | |
| 46 | easternmost point of Kakia Skala | |
| 52 | Westernmost point of Kakia Skala | |
| 52 | Old Kineta Interchange (closed 2001){ | |
| 54 | New Kineta Interchange (cloverleaf), opened 1995 | |
| 57 | Attica-Corinthia prefectural (departmental/provincial) boundary | |
| 62 | Aghioi Theodoroi Toll Interchange | |
| 68 | north of the refinery | |
| 72 | Isthmia Toll booth | |
| 73 | view of Kalamaki | |
| 74 | Corinth-Loutraki (Old GR-9) interchange (westbound), old toll booth | |
| 75 | Epidaurus (GR-70) Interchange | |
| 77 | underpass | |
| 78 | West Corinth-Examili Interchange | |
| 80 | Tripoli (GR-7 E65) Junction, end of E94 | |
| 82 | Argos, Nauplion-Lechaeum (GR-7) Interchange | |
| 90 | Corinth rest area (eastbound) | |
| 91 | Corinth Toll booth or station | |
| 102 | South Kiato Rest Area | |
| 106 and 107 | 2 overpasses | |
| 108 | Elissus/Elissos River | |
| 109 | Kiaton-Stymphalia Interchange | |
| 110 | Kiaton Rest Area (westbound) | |
| 125 | Xylokastron-Trikkala Interchange | |
| 146 | Parking area (both directions) | |
| 147 | Akrata-Aigiera Interchange | |
| 154 | ELPA Rest Area | |
| 158 | Kalavrita-Diacopton(um) Interchange | |
| 171 | Texaco Bon Voyage sign (torn down) | |
| 172 | Aegion-Pterion-Kalavrita Interchange | |
| 173 | GR31 overpass | |
| 174 | Aegion Rest Area (Shell gas station/gasbar) | |
| 175 | West Aegion | |
| 177 | West Aegion/Old GR-9 Interchange, (eastbound, partial) (cloverleaf) | |
| 181 | Longos-Selimantika-Old GR-8 Interchange | |
| 182 | view of Longos | |
| 183 | view of Seliamantika | |
| 184 | Low railway bridge | |
| 187 | Achaea and the Peloponnese's Northernmost point | |
| 205 | Rhion Toll booth or station | |
| 206 | Rhion Junction | |
| 207 | Patras By-Pass/Beltway Junction, some North Patras Interchange, opened 2003 | |
| 208(1Beltway) | Kastritsi (University-Pan-Achaean Skiing Resort) Interchange | |
| 209 to 211 (2 to 4) | Patras Tunnel | |
| 209(defunct) | University of Patras-Proasteia Junction | |
| 212(defunct) | Pyrgos-Port of Patras Junction (opened 1996) | |
| 213(defunct) | Aretha Street Jct. (Skiessa-Hagyia) (former fourth route) | |
| 214(defunct) | Amerikis Street Jct. (fmr. third route) | |
| 215(defunct) | Panepistemeiou Street | |
| 216(defunct) | End of highway |