Greek National Road 7
Encyclopedia
The Moreas Motorway is a motorway in Peloponnese
, Greece
. Locally it is known as the Moréas (Μωρέας), which was the medieval name of the Peloponnese
. The A7 begins just west of the Isthmus of Corinth
, branching off from Greek National Road 8A
(which is now integrated into the Olympia Odos
). It connects Corinth
and Kalamata
via Tripoli
.
The motorway is still under construction; the section between Corinth and Tripoli is in operation and it too is in the process of being upgraded to the latest motorway standards. Construction on the Tripoli-Megalopoli-Kalamata
section started in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed in early 2012. The A7 will have a motorway branch from Lefktro to Sparta
that is under construction; this branch will be numbered A71.http://www.moreas.com.gr/summaryen.asp?catid=18271
As part of the concession agreement between the Greek state
and the consortium operating the motorway (Moreas S.A.), the latter is responsible for constructing, operating, maintaining and modernizing the A7. In existing sections of the motorway, improvements include the straightening of dangerous curves, constructing new tunnels, completing the Artemision tunnel, adding more light fixtures and upgrading the median throughout.http://www.moreas.com.gr/defaulten.asp?catid=18270
(GR-7) was the only road connecting Corinth and Tripoli via Nemea
/ Dervenakia
, Argos
and Achladokampos
. This was a two-lane road with dangerous curves, especially in the "Kolosoúrtis" (Κωλοσούρτης) section west of Myli
; the road exists to this day and is open to local traffic. The A7 motorway has been credited with spearheading Tripoli
's economic growth.http://www.moreas.com.gr/defaulten.asp?catid=18270
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Locally it is known as the Moréas (Μωρέας), which was the medieval name of the Peloponnese
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
. The A7 begins just west of the Isthmus of Corinth
Isthmus of Corinth
The Isthmus of Corinth is the narrow land bridge which connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the mainland of Greece, near the city of Corinth. The word "isthmus" comes from the Ancient Greek word for "neck" and refers to the narrowness of the land. The Isthmus was known in the ancient...
, branching off from Greek National Road 8A
Greek National Road 8A
Greek National Road 8A is a toll road running from Kifissou avenue, in Athens up to the northeast of Patras. It is a highway from Kifissou avenue up to Corinth, for about 85 km and the rest is an undivided highway with just one lane per direction. The total length is 215 km, but for the...
(which is now integrated into the Olympia Odos
Olympia Odos
Olympia Odos is a planned major motorway, currently under construction. The motorway will run from Athens all the way down to Tsakona, spanning a total of . Part of the motorway will run parallel to and replace Greek National Road 8A, while parts of it will be upgraded to modern motorway standards...
). It connects Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
and Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
via Tripoli
Tripoli, Greece
Tripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...
.
The motorway is still under construction; the section between Corinth and Tripoli is in operation and it too is in the process of being upgraded to the latest motorway standards. Construction on the Tripoli-Megalopoli-Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
section started in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed in early 2012. The A7 will have a motorway branch from Lefktro to Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
that is under construction; this branch will be numbered A71.http://www.moreas.com.gr/summaryen.asp?catid=18271
As part of the concession agreement between the Greek state
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the consortium operating the motorway (Moreas S.A.), the latter is responsible for constructing, operating, maintaining and modernizing the A7. In existing sections of the motorway, improvements include the straightening of dangerous curves, constructing new tunnels, completing the Artemision tunnel, adding more light fixtures and upgrading the median throughout.http://www.moreas.com.gr/defaulten.asp?catid=18270
Length
- CorinthCorinthCorinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
to TripoliTripoli, GreeceTripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...
: 82.6 km (51 mi) - CorinthCorinthCorinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
to KalamataKalamataKalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
: 122.4 km (76 mi) - Lefktro to SpartaSpartaSparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
: 47 km (29 mi) - Total length: 205 km (127 mi)
History and additional information
The Corinth-Tripoli segment was constructed between 1984 and 1990. It officially became part of the Greek road network in 1992. Prior to that, the Greek National Road 7Greek National Road 7
The Moreas Motorway is a motorway in Peloponnese, Greece. Locally it is known as the Moréas , which was the medieval name of the Peloponnese. The A7 begins just west of the Isthmus of Corinth, branching off from Greek National Road 8A...
(GR-7) was the only road connecting Corinth and Tripoli via Nemea
Nemea
Nemea is an ancient site near the head of the valley of the River Elissos in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. Formerly part of the territory of Cleonae in Argolis, it is today part of the prefecture of Corinthia...
/ Dervenakia
Dervenakia
Dervenakia are small hamlets in the prefecture of Corinthia, in northeastern Peloponnesus . The name is derived from the Turkish word derven, meaning mountain pass....
, Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
and Achladokampos
Achladokampos
Achladokampos is a village and a former community in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 654...
. This was a two-lane road with dangerous curves, especially in the "Kolosoúrtis" (Κωλοσούρτης) section west of Myli
Myloi
Myloi or Myli, Mili may refer to places in Greece:*Myloi, Argolis, a place in the southwestern part of the prefecture of Argolis*Myloi, Euboea, a village in Euboea, part of the municipality Karystos...
; the road exists to this day and is open to local traffic. The A7 motorway has been credited with spearheading Tripoli
Tripoli, Greece
Tripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...
's economic growth.http://www.moreas.com.gr/defaulten.asp?catid=18270