OMEK had the duty of Construction Supervision Consultant at the Western Region of Egnatia Odos (from Igoumenitsa to Metsovo), within years from 1997 to 2006.

Western Region of Egnatia odos was the most difficult, from a technical point of view, section of Egnatia Motorway due to the difficult geomorphology of the road traversal zone (the axis intersects vertically Pindos Mountain) and the serious geological problems that determined the alternatives of the motorway alignment.

Approximately 30% of the Egnatia Motorway total length in Epirus comprises of major technical projects. In particular there were constructed:

• 32 twin bore tunnels covering 30 km of motorway (58 km of single carriageway) 
• Many split-deck bridges covering 7.5 km of motorway (15 km of single carriageway). Five (5) from the bridges with a variety of Construction Methods in their Foundation works (Soil Improvement, Bored Piles, Shafts etc.) and Deck (Balance Cantilever, Moveable Scaffolding System, Gradual Bridge Deck Launching, Precast – Prestressed Beams) have total length larger than 500 m each. 

The contracts that OMEK was involved as Supervisor Consultant at EGNATIA ODOS included:

Over 125 km of Motorway

10 Interchanges

42 Underpasses and 5 Overpasses

17 Twin Tunnels and 2 Single bore Tunnels of total length 41.727 m

36 Bridges of total length 6.120 m

3 Cut & Covers of total length 1.369 m

EGNATIA ODOS WESTERN REGION TUNNELS Supervised by OMEK

Amongst the 5 Longest Tunnels of Egnatia Odos, the 3 were supervised by OMEK SA, whilst in 1 OMEK SA was involved in the preparatory stages as Construction Supervision Consultant. These were:

• Driskos Tunnel, Length: 4.563m and 4.581m (the longest Highway Tunnel in Greece at that time)
• Dodoni Tunnel, Length: 3.347m per bore
• Anilio Tunnel, Length: 2.201m and 2.152m,

Tunnels Supervised in EGNATIA ODOS Western Region were:

• Section Igoumenitsa – Ioannina and Peristeri Area TUNNELS

In this area, ten (10) Double Bore Tunnels and three (3) Cut & Covers were supervised by OMEK SA staff. 

Total Tunnels Length at the Right Bore of Igoumenitsa to Peristeri = 15.183m

Total Tunnels Length at the Left Bore of Igoumenitsa to Peristeri = 15.173m

Total Tunnels Bored Length at the area from Igoumenitsa to Peristeri = 30.356m

• Metsovo Area TUNNELS

One of the most difficult terrains that Egnatia Odos met were at the area of Metsovo. The dominant area geology is Flysch.

In this area, seven (7) consequent Double Bore and one (1) Single Bore Tunnels were constructed and supervised by OMEK SA staff 

Total Bored Length of the 21 Tunnels (including 3 C&C) Supervised by OMEK SA at the area of Western Egnatia = 43.634m

EGNATIA ODOS WESTERN REGION MAJOR BRIDGES Supervised by OMEK

Amongst the 7 Longest Bridges of Egnatia Odos, the 3 were Supervised by OMEK SA, whilst in 2 OMEK SA was involved in the preparatory stages as Construction Supervision Consultant.

The above were constructed using almost all types of Construction Methods

More Specifically the EGNATIA Western Region Longest Bridges Supervised by OMEK belonging in the 7 Major of Egnatia are:

• Kristalopigi Bridge (Valley Bridge near Paramithia)

Length of right carriageway: 848m and 12 Spans.

Length of left carriageway: 680m and 8 Spans

Maximum Pier height: 30m

Construction method: MSS (Moveable Scaffolding System)

• Votonosi Bridge (River Bridge near Metsovo)

The Bridge covers the span area in between two Tunnels (Anthohori and Votonosi)

Length of right carriageway: 477.20m

Length of left carriageway:  490.5m

Number of spans:   3+3 (left and right carriageway)

Maximum span length: 230m – together with Metsovitikos River Bridge, The second in Greece after Rio Bridge

Maximum pier height:  53.30m

Midpiers Foundation: Shafts Replacing Rockmass at a Depth of 25 – 35m and Diameter 13m.

Construction method: Balanced Cantilever

• Megalorema Bridge (Valley Bridge near Metsovo)

Length of right carriageway: 518,90m

Length of left carriageway:  487,80

Number of spans: 11+11 (left and right carriageway)

Maximum pier height: 32m

Midpiers Foundation: 8 Bored Piles Φ1,20 and Depth 17 – 25m

Construction method: Gradual Bridge Deck Launching

EGNATIA LONGEST BRIDGES WITH OMEK INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES

• Arachthos Bridge

Length of right carriageway: 1036m

Length of left carriageway:  1036m

Number of spans:   8+8 (left and right carriageway)

Maximum span length:  142m

Maximum pier height:  30m

Construction method: Balanced Cantilever

• Metsovitikos River Bridge

Length of right carriageway: 536.99m

Length of left carriageway:  537.65m

Number of spans:   4+4 (left and right carriageway)

Maximum span length:  235m

Maximum pier height:  110m

Construction method: Balanced Cantilever

EGNATIA ODOS WESTERN REGION DEMANDING GEOTECHNICAL WORKS Supervised by OMEK

The ground along the Egnatia Motorway is characterized by a vast variety of geological formations and geotechnical conditions. It is not rare that structures and earthworks constructed along the Motorway need to be protected against geological changes (landslides, liquefactions, etc.), especially since the project crosses an abundance of different geotectonic zones formed throughout the whole Geological History of Greece.

The main geotechnical problems that needed to be handled and solved, were: 

• The high seismicity of the area crossed by the Egnatia Odos project was the most important factor that demanded careful design.
• Landslide areas, met all over Western part of Egnatia (region of Epirus) and especially at the area of Metsovo where Flysch formations are predominant.
• Construction works in riverside areas characterized by extensive deposits of soft compressible soils.

Major Geotechnical Works included:

• Piles Walls (including Berlin Wall type).
• Prestressed Anchors to stabilize greater Landslide areas 
• Reinforced Earth with Concrete Panels in difficult ground morphologies.
• Special Ground Improvement techniques like Jet Grouting
• Reinforced Embankments using Geotextiles.
• Deep cuts and high embankments

Also a series of Major Structures were founded on Bored Piles or Rock Replacing Shafts.