Holiday Exodus Gridlock: Farmer Protests Choke Greek Highways

07:47 24/12/2025 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Tens of thousands of travelers were left stranded for hours across Greece’s national road network as massive traffic jams caused by farmer protests brought key highways to a near standstill during the peak holiday exodus.

The worst congestion paralyzed the Athens-Lamia highway, with vehicles backed up for kilometers

from Schimatari to Kastro.

Traffic began to ease only after 10 p.m. following delays that left families and elderly travelers stuck in their cars.

Attica traffic police reported that heavy holiday volume compounded the disruption. Between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., more than 42,000 vehicles exited the capital, overwhelming roads already constricted by tractor blockades.

At the Thebes checkpoint, police were forced to funnel traffic into a single lane as tractors lined the emergency shoulder.

Police spokeswoman Konstantia Dimoglidou stated that conditions had "largely normalized" by late evening at key choke points like Thebes and Skala Atalantis after farmers opened two lanes.

"Traffic flow has improved, though heavy trucks are still being diverted to older networks in some areas," Ms. Dimoglidou said, expressing cautious optimism for Christmas Eve travel.

However, issues persisted elsewhere.

In Patras, traffic was diverted through the city center due to ring road closures, causing major delays.

While most border crossings remained open, the Exohi customs post in eastern Macedonia stayed closed indefinitely to freight trucks.

The disruptions underscore the escalating tension between the government and the agricultural sector over production costs, clashing directly with one of the year's busiest travel periods.

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