Which Greek bridge, opened in 2004, links Rio and Antirrio across the Gulf of Corinth?

The Rion–Antirion Bridge is the Greek bridge opened in 2004 that links Rio and Antirrio across the Gulf of Corinth.

Officially named the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, it connects the Peloponnese with mainland Greece near the western entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. The bridge opened on 7 August 2004, shortly before the Athens Olympic Games, and carries motorway traffic between Rio and Antirrio.

Its four main piers stand in deep water and support a multi-span cable-stayed structure about 2,252 metres long. The site presents major engineering challenges, including deep foundations, seismic activity, strong winds, and possible tectonic movement. The bridge was designed to tolerate these conditions rather than rely on conventional shallow foundations.

The bridge’s two names can cause confusion. Rion–Antirion describes the locations it connects, while Charilaos Trikoupis honors the 19th-century Greek prime minister who proposed a fixed crossing in the area.