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Since midnight the drivers travelling by car along the Athens-Thessaloniki route have been obliged to pay higher toll fees at five tollgates.

Two companies, namely "Nea Odos" and "Egeo Highway" have introduced the new toll fees at the tollgates of Afidnes, Thebes, Tragana, Pelasgia and Moshohori. If you add to them the other tollgates where the fees have not changed (Agia Triada, Makrihori, Pirgetos, Leptokaria, Klidi, Malgara) the total cost will amount to 29.15 euro.

The new toll fees in the highway section managed by "Nea Odos" (from Metamorfosi to Scarfe) have been effective since midnight. Along this section, the toll fees for driving in one direction have changed at three tollgates, as follows:

1. In Afidnes car drivers have to pay 3.35 euro instead of the 2.1 euro previously paid.

2. In Thebes the toll fee has increased from 2.55 euro to 3.95 euro.

3. In Tragana the new toll fee is 3.9 euro instead of 2.45 euro.

In this case, the trip to and after Tragana will cost 11.2 euro instead of the 7.1 euro previously paid. "Nea Odos" has announced that there will be discounts for those drivers who use the electronic devices. The discounts will apply to the toll gates of Afidnes as well as to those of Kapandritio (where the new toll fee is 2.05 euro), Malakasa (the new toll fee is 1.45 euro) and Inofita (0.65 euro). The discounts vary from 5% for those who travel the route from 11 to 20 times per month and reach 50% for those travelling it between 51 and 60 times per month.

The fees at the tollgates of Agia Triada, which are managed by "Kentriki Odos", remain unchanged, namely 1.65 euro.

The third company, "Egeo Highway", announced two days ago the new higher toll fees, which are already in force. At the tollgate of Pelasgia drivers have to pay 3.5 euro (instead of 2.7 euro) and of Moshohori 4 euro (instead of 3.1 euro). The fees at both tollgates remain unchanged for drivers using the electronic devices. The fees at the tollgates of Makrihorio (1.4 euro), Pirgetos (2 euro), Leptokaria (2 euro) and Klidi (2.2 euro) also remain unchanged as well as those of Malgara (1.2 euro).

The fee for passing through those 11 tollgates already amounts to 29.15 euro for drivers who do not use electronic devices. Until last night, this amount was 23.35 euro.

The new toll fees along the Athens-Corinth highway have been effective since midnight, which will change the habits of many drivers using this road on a daily basis. In particular, the tollgate of Elevsina already works in both directions, not just in one, as was the case yesterday, which means that those who enter Athens have to pay a toll fee as well.

As of 5 February 2014, the drivers passing through the tollgate of Elevsina (in both directions) have to pay 4.20 euro.

A 31.5% increase

The amount previously paid by the drivers passing through Elevsina was 3.20 euro whereas the new toll fee is 4.20 euro, which is an increase of about 31.5%! This is because passing drivers have to pay 2.10 on the way out and additional 2.10 euro on the way back. The side tollgates, from Elevsina to the Corinth Canal, have started operating as well. In particular, drivers already pay a toll fee in both directions in the area of ​​Nea Peramos, Pahi Megaron and Agii Theodori and the amount payable for cars varies from 0.50 euro to 1.40 euro, depending on the tollgate.

This is a core problem for the local communities, as hereinafter drivers will have to pay high toll fees to travel short distances of a few kilometres. Actually, this means that the traffic on the old road Athens-Corinth will significantly increase because many drivers will use it to avoid paying toll fees. This fact will have a negative impact on areas like Megalo Pevko, Agii Theodori and others, because the old road passes through populated areas.

The old road is dangerous, especially when the traffic is heavy and the weather conditions are not good.

The drivers using the old road may move slowly but the view is unique.