The Rio - Antirrio Bridge is a unique construction and technological achievement, as well as benchmark at a global level which was inaugurated on 12 August 2004, on the eve of the opening ceremony of Athens Olympic Games, making the vision of Charilaos Trikoupis a reality, while ensuring the continuous connection of the two sides of the Strait, improving the everyday life of citizens and contributing to the sustainable development of Western Greece.
The 20th anniversary in 2024, was an opportunity to remember the conditions that prevailed when crossing the Strait and travelling to Western Greece before the Bridge’s implementation, as well the emotion of all Greeks when the Olympic flame crossed the Bridge for the first time, that unforgettable summer of 2004, which was marked by many Greek successes, becoming for all Greeks a point of reference and pride.
In 1880 Harilaos Trikoupis became Prime Minister of Greece. Born in Nafplion, he had a vision of joining Messolonghi, his home county (northern coast of the Corinthian Gulf) with Achaia region in the Peloponnese (southern coast). He spoke in the Parliament about the need to bridge the Rio – Antirrio strait on March 29, 1889. However, such a project was not technically feasible until the end of the 20th Century. So it took almost a whole century before the Greek State decided to call for tenders for the construction of a fixed link. The invitation to tender in 1991 followed by the tender in December 1993 led on January 3, 1996, to the signing between the Hellenic Republic and GEFYRA of the Concession Agreement for the Design, Construction, Financing, Maintenance and Operation of the Rio – Antirrio Bridge.
This agreement was not put into force until the full financing for the project was achieved, by the end of 1997. It took 2 years to close the first privately financed concession project in modern Greece with the EIB master facility agreement signed on July 25, 1997 and financial agreement was achieved on December 17, 1997. On July 19, 1998, Mr. Costas Simitis, Prime Minister of Greece cast the first stone for the Rio – Antirrio Bridge, in presence of Costis Stephanopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic. Less than seven years later, and 4 months ahead of schedule, the Rio – Antirrio Bridge was inaugurated by the Minister of Public Works, Mr. George Souflias on August 12, 2004, in the eve of the Opening of the Athens Olympic Games.
The Bridge, which was implemented based on the concession model which has a successful track record in Greece, is an excellent example of cooperation between the private and public sectors. It is an infrastructure project marked by technical excellence, leaving a strong positive footprint on the economic and social development of the region, ensuring the continuous connection of the Strait and setting high standards in operation and maintenance.
At the Rio - Antirrio Bridge, our priority is to ensure continuous connectivity and contribute to the sustainable development of Western Greece and the local communities.
The Bridge provides a permanent link:
Since its opening, the Bridge has contributed greatly to the connection of the western part of the country and the interconnection of Greece with Europe as a link between the two ports that are the country's gateways to the west, Patras and Igoumenitsa. Improving accessibility and increasing mobility contributes to sustainable development as it has significant positive effects on employment and labor market mobility, on attracting investment and on the supply chain.
The contribution to tourism development is also significant thanks to the modern motorway network connected to the Bridge, namely the Athens-Corinthos-Patras motorway (concession project managed by Olympia Odos S.A.) and the Ioannina-Antirio motorway (concession project managed by Nea Odos S.A.) allows travelers and visitors to reach Western Greece safely and in a very short time.
The updated study by the Observatory of Road Axes of Western Greece (September 2024) shows that mobility in the strait has increased by 40% compared to before 2004, despite the fact that two major crises (the economic and the pandemic) have intervened, with positive effects in many sectors, such as the lift of social exclusion for communities in Western Greece, opportunities for employment, expansion of trade and business links, freight transport and supply chain and, of course, the development of tourism in the wider region.
At the Bridge, we believe that the projects we implement and the bridges we build are not only made of concrete and steel. They are people's projects that must respond to the needs of local communities and users, thereby contributing to improving the daily lives of citizens and promoting sustainable development.
The Rio – Antirrio Bridge is the longest multi-span cable stayed bridge of the world with its 2,252 meters continuous and fully suspended deck. Its foundations lay on a seabed that reaches 65 meters of depth. This is a world record for a bridge as well as their diameter of 90 meters making of them the world’s largest bridge foundations. However, according to the constructors, the best record of this great Bridge is that it was built “without any serious accident, without a single drop of blood being shed”.
It is therefore clear that the effective management of this flagship project is a constant challenge that requires the introduction of innovative solutions, usage of the latest technology, advanced methods and qualified personnel. In this context, the concessionaire, a member of VINCI Highways network, draws on the expertise of one of the world's leading motorway management companies, setting new standards in the maintenance and operation of infrastructure projects in accordance with the highest international standards.
The Bridge has been awarded 9 International Awards by the scientific community, out of which we distinguish the following ones: