Ethniki Odos 3

	Template: Infobox high-level road / Maintenance / GR-N
	Ethniki Odos EO3 in Greece
	Basic data
Operator:
Overall length:	500 km
Periferies ( regions ):	Western Macedonia; Thessaly; Central Greece; Attica;

The Ethniki Odos 3 / Εθνική Οδός 3 ( Greek for 'National Road 3') is a road on the mainland of Greece that runs from the north on the Macedonian border (Niki) in the Florina regional district to the south to the city of Elefsina on the coast of the Saronic Gulf in Runs west of Athens . It is an important north-south connection and has a length of approx. 500 km. A section of national road 3 from Kozani to Ptolemaida has been developed as motorway 27 (A27) and is signposted accordingly, another part of national road 3 (Domokos-Lamia) will be replaced by motorway 3 (A3), which is under construction, after its completion.

course

Northern section (Florina, Kozani)

National road 3 begins on the Macedonian border near Niki in the Florina regional district and initially runs south to the city of Florina . From there it unites with EO 2 and heads west to the small village of Vevi . At Vevi the national road 3 is directed south, passes the mountain Mala Reka east and west the Petres lake, to the village Amyndeo . South of Amynteo, national road 3 branches off again southward from national road 2 and leads through the Greek brown coal or lignite district to Ptolemaida in the Kozani regional district . Ptolemaida is bypassed in the west between the city and a lignite mine. On the section between Amyndeo and Ptolemaida-Süd, national road 3 has been developed as a two-lane road with one hard shoulder and junctions free of intersections. From the junction Ptolemaida-Süd, the GR-EO3 runs via Pontokomi to Kozani. This section is designated as Autobahn 27 and has separate lanes with two lanes each without a hard shoulder. In the north of Kozani national road three crosses as Highway 27 to Highway 2 ( E 90 ). After the junction with Highway 2, it continues south through the town of Kozani. The expansion and designation as Autobahn 27 ends before entering the city of Kozani. After passing the city of Kozani in the town, the national road 3 runs straight towards the north coast of the Aliakmonas reservoir (Polyfytos lake). The Aliakmonas reservoir is crossed by the Servia Bridge.

Servia Bridge on National Road 3 across Lake Polyfytos (Aliakmonas Reservoir) south of Kozani and north of Servia.

From the south coast of the Aliakmonas reservoir after passing the small town of Servia , the mountain massifs Kamvounias (west) and Schapka or Titaros (east) are passed on a winding route to the southeast to the city of Elassona via the Sarandaporos pass. The Kozani regional district is left and the Larisa regional district entered.

Middle section (Larisa, Fiotida)

After reaching the regional district of Larisa , the national road 3 leads to Elassona at the western foot of the Olympus massif. From there it swings further to the southeast and reaches the town of Larisa on the northern edge of the Thessalian lowlands. A bypass road leads the national road 3 around Larisa and turns it on south course to Pharsala . From Farsala, the national road 3 turns west to leave the Thessalian plain in a valley east of the Koumaros mountain and to reach the town of Lamia on the Maliakos Gulf via Domokos and the Stena Fourkas pass over the mountain range in the north of Lamia . In the future, the Domokos-Lamia section will be replaced by the Autobahn 3, which is currently under construction.

It crosses the town of Lamia and runs straight south along the western flank of the mountain Iti (Oiti) to the town of Vralos. From Vralos the EO 3 swings in a south-easterly direction and runs south of the river Kifisos to the plain of Boeotia ( Viotia ).

Southern section ( Viotia , Attiki )

When entering the plain of Viotia , the national road 3 runs in the north of the city of Livadia further to the southeast on the southern edge of the plain. It leads in the same direction to the city of Thiva and leads into it. In the city of Thiva, National Road 3 turns strictly south and runs straight towards the city of Erythres. Erythres is bypassed in a west arch. Then the national road 3 meanders through a valley between the mountains Lestori (west) and Pastra Oros (east) again to the southeast to the town of Inoi (Ini). This is crossed before the national road 3 points south again and runs along the eastern flank of the Makron Oros mountain. In the village of Paleochori, the national road 3 turns to the southeast and descends via Villari and Mandra to its end point in Elefsina on the Saronic Gulf in the west of Athens .

Route sections, expansion

Most of the national road 3 is a 2-lane country road with two-way traffic. The road can be found in this state of development, especially in the mountain and pass sections. However, extensive measures have been taken to improve the road in recent years. Certain sections of the route were expanded:

Florina - Vevi - Amyndeo - junction Ptolemaida -South

expanded with 2 lanes for oncoming traffic, 1 hard shoulder each and 1 crawl lane for mountain sections

Junction Ptolemaida - South - Kozani - North motorway junction (A2)

Kozani - Aiani (Eani) / Aliakmonas Reservoir

expanded with 2 lanes for oncoming traffic, 1 hard shoulder each and 1 crawl lane for mountain sections

Larisa (western bypass)

expanded with 2 lanes for oncoming traffic, 1 hard shoulder each and 1 crawl lane for mountain sections

Lamia

Extended junction to Autobahn 1 (A1) ( E 75 )

European roads

The EO 3 carries the following European roads proportionally on its route:

E 65 : Niki - Florina - Kozani - Larisa - Lamia - Paleochori
---: Paleochori - thiva
E 962 : Thiva - Elefsina

In addition, on the section from Florina to Amyndeo, EO 3 corresponds to EO 2 (or vice versa) and is therefore E 86 .

Attractions

Immediately on the national road 3

The following sights can be found directly (max. 5 km away) on national road 3:

Florina - Antique Florina
Amyndeo - Ancient Petres
Ptolemaida - Greek lignite area
Kozani - old town
Aliakmonas Reservoir
Thebes - Ancient Thebes

At a distance from the national road 3

The following sights can be found directly (max. 40 km away) on national road 3:

Platea ( Platees ) - Ancient Battlefield Platea (479 BC - Greece vs. Persia )
Distomo - the scene of a war crime during World War II
Thermopylae - scene of the ancient battle of the same name
Florina - Prespa Lake and Small Prespa Lake
Athens - Acropolis