Filenews 19 September 2021 - by Dora Christodoulou
At the time when it was preparing to become the European Capital of Culture for 2017, Pafos underwent the most extensive facelift in its history. Then the city of Kinyras changed its face completely, mainly in its most central and commercial areas. Almost five years since then, Pafos is being "rebuilt", with construction sites making their appearance one after the other for a new, "extreme makeover", this time covering not only its historical and commercial centre, but every corner of literally the town hall area.
Since last summer, the major project of the unification of the archaeological sites of Kato Pafos, with the consequent improvements of the wider urban environment and the road network, is in full swing. In the centre of the city is also in progress since the beginning of September the major project of the redevelopment of Ellados Avenue, Evagoras Pallikaridis and Neophytos Nikolaidis, which change the everyday life of Paphians for months due to the extent of the works in key areas for their everyday life. And the next two months follows another aesthetic and functional intervention in its commercial centre, as a continuation of what has already taken place in the three-year period 2014-17.
The number one project of importance at the moment in the city is the improvement of Ellados Avenue and its neighbouring central commercial and road axes. It is the work that affects the whole of Pafos society anyway. Construction work to improve Ellados Avenue has begun from its northwest side. Specifically, the strip in a northerly direction, from Paphos to Mesogi, is closed from the top of Byzantium Street up to the traffic junction of Viofos. Traffic is channelled through Olympus, Vasileos Konstantinou, Georgiou Nikolaou and Dimokratias streets to the east and via Byzantium and Alexandrou Papagou streets in the west. The lane in the direction from Mesogi to Paphos remains in operation at this stage.
Work includes undergrounding services, reconstruction or construction of roads and pavements, parking spaces, upgrading of street lighting and more.
The project, with a total cost of €9 million plus VAT, is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, the Republic of Cyprus and the Municipality of Paphos.
The works for the redevelopment of Greece already "touch" the avenues Evagoras Pallikaridis, Neophytou Nikolaidis and Eleftherios Venizelos avenues. After the old premises that recently hosted an Arabic bakery, on the traffic lights across from the Papantoniou supermarket, in the centre of Pafos, were demolished a few days ago, as were, of another era and style, the building complex on the opposite side of the road, in which occasionally operated bank branches, foreign exchange offices and other businesses. The demolition took place in the presence of dozens of citizens who had gathered for the impressive spectacle and the now unusual aspect of one of the most central parts of the city. At this point, based on the design, a large traffic junction will be constructed that will channel traffic to the major roads of the areas, such as Ellados Avenue, Evagora Pallikaridis, Eleftheriou Venizelou and the smaller roads to the shopping centre and the district of Mouttalos.
The range of the works and their execution in the core of the residential area, however, contribute to the voices of protest heard by affected people. The fences of the construction site on the central Avenue Neophytou Nikolaidis in Paphos, have been placed continuously along the entire length of the road, tangent with fences of the buildings, thus completely closing the access of the public to the shops that are still operating and have completely excluded the movement of pedestrians.
This is denounced by local businessmen, pointing out that although it is understandable that there must be a period of inconvenience for them to carry out the work, things are not being done in a way that helps them as much as possible. Traders of Neophytou Nikolaidis told "F" that the positive attitude of all businesses without exception to the project under implementation continues, but the Municipality and the contractor should take care during the progress of the works for the best possible operation of businesses.
They also pointed out that, in the absence of this provision, the first cases are already recorded when entire businesses close and transfer their operations to other parts of Paphos so that they can continue their activity unhindered. They characterize the issue as very serious as it affects the viability of businesses, but also because it raises, as they argue, serious issues regarding the safety of employees, customers and residents of this area.
In the shopping centre itself, additional improvements are coming in the near future, creating an overall picture of a vast construction site and a tomorrow that will find Paphos, with the return of normality to the post-covid era, as a completely different city.
The contract for the execution of the project "Construction of facilities and improvements at the Pafos Shopping Centre" has already been signed and has a total cost of €153,000 with a duration of six months.
Within the framework of the project, ramps for people with disabilities and markings for the course of the blind will be constructed, guidelines and information signs will be placed, corrections will be made to street lighting poles, existing water meters will be undergrounded, service cabinets and parking ticket bases will be constructed, lids will be placed on wells and metal railings on external stairs of premises, new constructions of stairs and corrections to existing ones will be made, as well as other works that will improve safety and accessibility in the area.
The unification of the archaeological sites proceeds
At a cost of more than €2 million, the project of unifying the archaeological sites of Kato Pafos is also in full swing during this period, after setbacks and difficult times.
After the installation of the 400-meter-long footbridge that will connect the western with the eastern part of the archaeological treasures of Kato Pafos and which passes at a great height above Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, the works on the ground are now progressing. This is one of the most important events of the last decades for the city and the district of Pafos, since it will now be possible to further highlight the rare archaeological wealth of Pafos internationally.
And while the works are continuing, the positive thing now for visitors and migrants on the city's beachfront is that their hassle has clearly been reduced now. The section of Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, from the traffic junction next to Kings Avenue Mall to the junction with Pafias Aphrodite Street, has been given to traffic, while the small roundabout at the point now allows access to the port and the pier.
This fact contributes to the great normalizing of the flow of vehicles to the pier and to Poseidonos Avenue, avoiding the reversals that many unsuspecting drivers were forced to re-engage in for the works and regulations in the area. The improvement of the situation, say traders of the para-grassroots front, came even partially at the right time with the crowds observed during the ceremonial period in Kato Pafos.
The offers for the traditional market have also been opened
Another project that will contribute to the further aesthetic upgrade of the traditional commercial centre of the city, concerns the redevelopment and beautification of the traditional market and popular neighbourhood for which the Municipality of Pafos has already proceeded to the opening of sealed offers, which contained the identity data of the participants.
The architectural competition aims to revitalize and highlight the traditional market in the centre of Paphos. The proposal highlights the importance of the commercial route of Makarios Avenue - Metropolitan of Pafos Chrysanthou, as the main commercial route in the urban centre of the city with the intention of organizing an open commercial-entertainment centre.
This route will connect the pedestrian walkways on both sides and will lead the walker to Laiki Geitonia as the main focus of traditional commercial activity. The proposal includes restoration of the facades in the study area and elements of urban equipment that contribute to the enhancement of the character of the area.
Details of the competition awards ceremony will be announced at a later stage.
