Filenews 25 June 2021
Today the National Roads III convention was signed, which for the last twenty years is the third relevant agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the European Investment Bank, said Transport Minister Giannis Karousos.
In particular, the Minister stated that National Roads III provides financial support from the European Investment Bank to critical land transport infrastructure projects developed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, with a total investment of €276 million. Today's signed agreement marks the largest support of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for investments in the transport sector in Cyprus, thus unlocking new key investments in infrastructure. EIB support will accelerate the work of photo-pointing, effectively address and manage critical road bottlenecks, improve the connectivity of isolated areas, enhance road safety and reduce fatal road collisions in our country.
As part of the National Roads III project, five separate projects are supported:
(i) The first phase of the Nicosia Perimeter Motorway, a key road project that serves the mobility needs of The largest urban area of Cyprus, Nicosia, and the dozens of municipalities and communities of the region, with an investment of €81.7 million.
(ii) The first phase of the Limassol-Saita Motorway, the largest road project under construction in the relatively isolated mountainous region of Troodos, providing enhanced accessibility and supporting general government social and economic cohesion policies for the dozens of communities in the region, with an investment of €33 million.
(iii) The first phase of the Paphos-Chrysochous City Motorway, providing enhanced accessibility to the most isolated area of the island, but with great development prospects, the area of Chrysochous Town and Telecommunications, with an investment of €95.7 million;
(iv) The first phase of the Road Network of the Vasilikos Energy Centre, which supports the general objectives of the Government in the crucial field of energy supply and production. The project is being promoted as part of the wider development of the Vasilikos Energy Centre in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry with an investment of €24.8 million.
(v) Last but not least the fifth project
included in the National Roads III is the Speed Enforcement Cameras project
with a capital investment of €40.6 million. Cyprus, through consistent and
continuous coordinated actions, has managed to significantly reduce the number
of road collisions and consequently the fatalities and injuries. The Speed
Enforcement Cameras project is one of the core measures included in the new
Road Safety Strategic Plan for the period 2021-2030. Cyprus adopted the EU
objective to halve the number of fatalities and serious injuries caused by road
collisions by 2030 and the Speed Enforcement Cameras will be a valuable tool
towards this effort.
Eyenews/AFP
