Attiki Odos tunnel construction causes major traffic congestion

Emergency tunnel maintenance on Athens’ Attiki Odos ring road is causing severe traffic disruptions and major delays for travelers attempting to reach the city’s airport. The closure affects a critical section of the highway between the Aspropyrgos interchange and the Fyli Avenue junction, with repairs scheduled to continue through Sunday, February 22. The shutdown has forced authorities to implement extensive detours that are creating bottlenecks across multiple arterial routes serving the Greek capital.

According to reports, the lanes toward Athens International Airport remain completely closed for the duration of the maintenance work. Additionally, entrances to the toll road from Elefsina through the Aigaleo ring road have been blocked, further limiting access options for motorists.

Attiki Odos Closure Creates Widespread Congestion

The Attiki Odos closure has redirected thousands of vehicles onto Athinon Avenue, where traffic congestion has intensified significantly. Commuters and freight operators are experiencing particularly long delays during peak rush hour periods. The detour route represents a substantial increase in travel time for anyone heading to or from the airport, one of southeastern Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.

Drivers attempting to reach downtown Athens are being routed via Athinon Avenue as their primary alternative. Meanwhile, motorists bound for Lamia must continue along the detour to Kifissos Avenue before turning northward toward their destination.

Complex Detour Routes Challenge Airport Travelers

Airport-bound travelers face the most complicated journey, requiring a lengthy loop through Athinon Avenue and Kifissos Avenue before rejoining Attiki Odos at the Metamorfosi interchange. Transportation officials have advised passengers planning to catch flights from Athens International Airport to either select alternative routes or allocate significantly more time for their journeys. However, with limited viable alternatives to the ring road, most drivers have little choice but to navigate the congested detour system.

The emergency nature of the tunnel maintenance suggests that safety concerns necessitated the immediate closure. Infrastructure authorities have not confirmed the specific technical issues prompting the repair work, though the extended closure period indicates substantial intervention is required.

Regional Traffic Impact Extends Beyond Ring Road

In contrast to typical maintenance schedules that might affect traffic during limited overnight hours, this daytime closure spans nearly two weeks and impacts multiple highway segments simultaneously. The ripple effects extend well beyond the immediate Attiki Odos corridor, affecting commuter patterns across western and northern Athens suburbs.

Additionally, the closure poses challenges for commercial freight operations that rely on the ring road for efficient cargo movement to and from Piraeus port and the airport logistics facilities. Supply chain operators may experience delays in delivery schedules as trucks navigate the congested alternative routes alongside passenger vehicles.

Transportation analysts note that the Attiki Odos serves as a critical artery for the Athens metropolitan area, handling hundreds of thousands of vehicles daily under normal circumstances. The diversion of this traffic volume onto surface streets designed for lower capacity creates cascading congestion that can persist throughout the day.

Maintenance Duration Raises Commuter Concerns

The two-week timeframe for the tunnel maintenance work represents a significant disruption for regular commuters who depend on Attiki Odos for daily travel. Local authorities have not indicated whether the February 22 deadline might be extended if additional repairs are discovered during the maintenance process.

The closure is expected to remain in effect through the announced Sunday deadline, though officials have not provided detailed updates on the progress of the tunnel repair work or whether the highway segment might reopen earlier than scheduled if conditions permit.