Capital’s traffic congestion crisis deepens

Traffic gridlock has become routine for Attica drivers, who in 2024 lost an average of 111 hours stuck in congestion, up from 104 the previous year. Major corridors, including central Athens streets, Kifissou Avenue, Attiki Odos, Kifissias Avenue and the coastal highway, remain clogged for most of the day. Specialists cite the region’s urban sprawl, longer commuting distances and development along saturated routes that lack adequate public transport. Aging vehicles worsen daily backups. The average passenger car in Greece is 17.8 years old, and 16.2 years in Attica, compared with 12.3 in most EU countries. “There are 36 breakdowns a day on Attiki Odos,” said Thanasis Tsianos, president of the Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers. Uncertain travel times deepen frustration. “What creates the greatest discomfort is the uncertainty around how long it will take to reach my destination,” said Zoi Christoforou, a transportation engineer and associate professor at the University of Patras. Experts expect traffic on key routes to grow about 16% by 2030, while Attiki Odos volumes may rise roughly 55% by 2050. Outdated junctions and traffic signals, some calibrated decades ago, further reduce roadway capacity. Conditions in central Athens have worsened enough that experts argue restrictions on private cars must be seriously considered. Short-term steps such as improved signal coordination and enforcement offer only brief relief. Long-term solutions, Christoforou said, require a “drastic reduction of cars in the city” paired with stronger public transport and expanded walking and cycling networks. Proposals include a “green ring” banning older vehicles, limited-traffic zones in the historic center, time-based restrictions and urban tolls, with protections for vulnerable groups. Public transport, weakened during the financial crisis, still lacks sufficient frequency and coverage. Specialists note that three-minute metro intervals could carry up to 20,000 passengers per hour.