Filenews 17 February 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
Its other face on the occasion of the works that are in full swing for its redevelopment and modernization, reveals today Ellados Avenue. One of the most important axes of Pafos in terms of traffic, commercial and economic. An avenue that is full of life every day, through which thousands of citizens and vehicles move.
The impressive image of the changes in the "showcase" that the commuters see daily on Ellados Avenue, comes to be tarnished by the repulsive look at the back of modern buildings. 'Hamospita' of other eras forgotten by time, but hearths for people until today, public spaces that have been turned into rubbish dumps in the heart of the built environment and makeshift shelters reminiscent of third world images, are revealed as the crews proceed to demolitions, change openings and other interventions.
This strong opposition is also acknowledged by the mayor of Pafos, Phaedon Phaedonos himself, who, in a post on social media, graphically puts forward: "Doll in front and behind plague". Mr. Phaedonos expresses, however, the determination of the municipality to change everything. "They will clean everything up and there will be demolitions", he points out. "Paphos is changing", underlines the mayor.
The cleaning of the remnants of other eras, which apart from the aesthetic disharmony create serious hygiene issues, is one part of the ongoing work. The mayor of Pafos stresses, speaking to "F", that the project of redevelopment, improvement and modernization of the infrastructure in this part of the city, is now entering a final stage.
Along with this, there is slowly an end to the suffering of commuters in the ascending current of Ellados Avenue, as well as the businesses that are on this side of this road axis. As Phaedon Phaedonos points out, the works on this particular track, from the Municipal Park of Dasoudi up to the Lidl supermarket, have almost been completed and already a section was given for use, while the asphalting of the pavement on the remaining part began, in order to give it to traffic as well.
This is a development of major importance for the daily lives of thousands of commuters on the road network, businessmen in the area, as well as consumers, since the works in the Ellados Avenue have caused a traffic heart attack in a large part of Paphos, as well as great economic damage to the affected businesses.
The major project on Ellados Avenue will certainly not be completed with the opening of this section, since the works will be transferred to other parts of the road axis until their partial completion. However, satisfaction is expressed for the pace of completion of each part of the project, since the central role of the avenue in the traffic and commercial everyday life of Pafos requires the fastest possible promotion of works.
Works on Ellados Avenue include undergrounding of services, reconstruction or construction of roads and sidewalks, parking lanes, street lighting upgrade 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 Pafos.
