Rio-Antirrio bridge

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Brief history of the bridge

The inauguration of the Rio-Antirrio bridge took place on 12 August 2004, one day before the official opening of the Athens Olympic Games. Of course, the original and officially registered inspiration for the construction of a bridge connecting the Peloponnese with Central Greece from Rio to Antirrio belongs to Charilaos Trikoupis (this is the official name of the bridge) who in 1889 raised the issue of bridging the strait before the Greek parliament. It took more than a century until 1997 when the first construction works of the cable-stayed bridge started.

• Photos from the Rio-Antirrio bridge
• Information/ Useful phone numbers
• Area map

The bridge of records

The Rio-Antirrio bridge is a world first as it is the largest multi-span cable-stayed bridge as stated on the official website (see information/phone numbers) with a continuous deck of 2,252 metres. In addition, the combination of foundation depth and diameter of its piers is a world record.

Specifically, the Rio-Antirrio bridge has foundations at a depth of up to 65 metres below sea level, while the diameter of its pillars is 90 metres! The total length of the Rio-Antirrio bridge is 2,880 metres and is supported by 4 impressive, especially when illuminated at night, pylons.

Of course, enormous attention has been paid to the safety part as the Rio-Antirrio bridge has been designed to withstand strong earthquakes, winds and even the fall of a 180,000-ton tanker on its pillars! (details on the official website www.gefyra.gr)

Ticket/crossing cost at the Rio-Antirrio bridge

The ticket for a single crossing of the Rio-Antirrio bridge for cars is 13.2€ while for motorbikes it is only 1.9€. For the fare to be paid by trucks and buses visit the official website (see information/phone numbers). The equivalent cost with the boat that connects Rio to Antirrio for a car (passengers are not charged) is 6.5€ (that’s what 2 of us paid in September 2012) . Crossing by boat may cost less, half price, but it will “eat” you up for about half an hour.

If you are not in a hurry, however, it might be worth it as from the boat you will have time to enjoy the amazing view of the Rio-Antirrio bridge and the two opposite landmasses. In addition to the cost of a single crossing there is a package of ten crossings for a week or a month, an ale retour card and a lower price for e-pass holders. Pedestrians and cyclists do not pay a transit fee.

Visit to the Rio-Antirrio bridge

You can visit the Rio-Antirrio bridge and admire the size and construction excellence of such a large project. Parking is available on both sides of the bridge and you can get a lot of useful information by visiting the exhibition centre (on the side of the bridge). Antirio) where you will find a video projection room about the construction, the inauguration and not only of the Rio-Antirrio bridge, a sales area for souvenirs, a customer service department and more. The exhibition centre is open on weekdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and on Sundays from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and admission is free of charge.

It goes without saying that coming out of the exhibition area you will climb the steps leading to the theatre and the pavement on the bridge and next to the motorway to admire the height and the view of either the Ionian or the Corinthian Gulf and the coast of the Peloponnese. If you want to have an almost “airplane” view of the bridge, however, it is worth visiting the beautiful Nafpaktos and its castle. The view from the castle of Nafpaktos is magnificent, as is the old town of course, located just below the pine-covered hill with its picturesque little harbour and old traditional houses.

Information / Useful phone numbers

• Official website: www.gefyra.gr
• Customer Service : 26340 39010-11 (fax: 26340 39049)
• Tickets/cost of transit: www.gefyra.gr
• in case of damage or accident: 26340.39-010/011,
  there is an emergency phone number near each pylon.
• All contact details about the bridge at www.gefyra.gr/contact

all data and prices are from September 2012, in 2021 which was my most recent crossing of the bridge, the cost by car if I remember correctly was 15 euros.

Photos from the bridge of Rio Antirrio

text/photos: Yannis Tsouratzis

Map with the Rio-Antirrio bridge