Excursionists who spent Easter in villages and islands are returning en masse, on cars, KTEL buses, ships and planes.
The return began gradually starting yesterday, Monday 6 May, as some decided to return early. Continuing today, the “returnee movement” is expected to peak in the afternoon.
Late yesterday evening, at approximately 11:30, an increase in traffic was observed on the Athens-Corinthos national highway, and earlier in the day the same happened with vehicle traffic in Athens-Lamia before Malakasa and from Kapandriti to the Afidnes toll road.
The departure of Greeks from the capital to the countryside became the largest in recent years and in the entire post-coronavirus era: about 700,000 cars left Attica alone!
According to the Traffic Directorate, between 6:00 and 18:00 yesterday, 52,431 vehicles returned to Attica, 30,100 (Athens-Corinth direction) and 22,331 (Athens-Lamia direction). On Easter Sunday, 48,925 vehicles returned (25,970 on the Athens-Corinth highway and 22,955 on the Athens-Lamia highway). Traffic also increased at the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio.
Excursionists returning to Thessaloniki yesterday were also affected, as work on the highway forced them to leave country roads. The same situation arose in Malgar due to work carried out at the height of the Axios Bridge, which reduced traffic lanes. The return of excursionists from Halkidiki went smoothly and there was a slight increase in traffic on the Kavala national highway.
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