Filenews 14 February 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
The slogan of the post-scandal era, "Pafos is changing", finds today and literally its application. Five years after the largest in scale and costly redevelopment that was implemented in the centre of the city, due to the European Capital of Culture, Paphos reminds again of a vast construction site during this period, with the aim of expanding its new face to all its regions by next summer.
Main roads, square areas, crowded areas have for weeks been temporarily inaccessible to citizens, as a price for the radical redevelopment and modernization of Pafos and its areas beyond the historical centre.
The Mayor of Pafos expressed his belief that very soon the suffering of citizens and visitors will come to an end: "We are moving forward rapidly. The company also understood that it needs to step up. Everything will change for the better. Pafos is changing", was his characteristic post on his personal social media account, on the occasion of the big project on Ellados Avenue.
And indeed, in this key part of the city, something seems to be changing in the last week: In its final stage it seems that the inconvenience of commuters in the rising current of Ellados Avenue, as well as the businesses that are on this side of the avenue, where in recent months the major project of redevelopment and upgrading of this central road axis of the city is in full swing, is now entering its final stage.
The works on this particular track despite the Municipal Park of Dasoudi up to the Lidl supermarket have almost been completed and have already been given to traffic. 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 on 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, of course, will not be completed with the opening of this section, since the works are 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 Ellados Avenue in the traffic and commercial everyday life of Pafos requires its promotion as soon as possible.
Another of the most nodal and busy roads of the city, Neophytou Nikolaidis Avenue, was also given to traffic these days, contributing to a great extent to facilitating the movement of thousands of motorists and decongesting the entire city centre.
This particular avenue, which connects the eastern entrance of the Municipality of Pafos with its historic centre and passes through important services such as the Government Buildings, the District Court, as well as dozens of commercial businesses and restaurants, was opened for traffic after months of work to upgrade and modernize it.
The works in Neophytou Nikolaidis have not been fully completed, since although the pavement is now used by the wheeled vehicles, work continues for the completion of the pavements on either side of the roadway and for the completion of the installation of the wiring of the services of social benefit.
The Mayor of Pafos also expressed his satisfaction for the opening of this central avenue of the city in a post on social media. Phaedon Phaedonos wrote specifically after the opening of Neophytou Nikolaidis: "In a few weeks all the cables and stakes are gone and the road acquires a European image".
The next intervention that is already ready in the municipal area of Pafos, concerns the historical site around the church of Agios Kendeas, in the heart of the "bazaar" of the city. There was designed and promoted a modern and functional square space, which among other things will include a playground and new parking spaces. The redevelopment of the surrounding area of the church of St. Kenneos is a project of a total cost of €390,000 and the works are expected to be completed within six months.
Phaedon Phaedonos stressed that the area will be transformed into one of the most important squares of the city, with an impressive playground, with external illumination of the church and other modern facilities, and expressed the belief that the area will be a pole of attraction for local residents and foreign visitors.
The project includes the replacement of existing pavements, the construction of new paved and damaged areas, the creation of a new parking area and a playground, the construction of a network of lighting, drains and stormwater management, as well as the installation of pre-prepared sanitary areas.
Delays on the coastal front
Where things are changing, but not at the desired pace, is the coastal front of Kato Pafos. In which once again, angry reactions are recorded by the businessmen of the region, after the discovery that the large-scale works that continue at the entrance of the archaeological park and the port of Kato Pafos, either stop completely for many days, or are carried out at a snail's pace and in the presence of only five or six workers.
The professionals of the region point out that both the range of changes taking place at the entrance of the "heart" of tourism, as well as the time period that they continue, create the need to promote immediately and without the slightest delay the works.
"It is inconceivable that the whole tourism industry has been out of business for two long years," they said, "and with its reactivation being faced with such problems and delays. It is incumbent on the Municipality of Pafos and the competent state departments to move immediately and urgently to the side of the contractor in order to immediately change the situation that has been created again in the last few days".
Up to Geroskipou the upgrades
The upgrades in Paphos also touch its eastern boundaries, with the Municipality of Geroskipou. The road that connects the city of Pafos with the Industrial Area, is finally ready and after the last "fabrications" will be given for use to the public in the coming days.
The project is under the responsibility of the Department of Public Works and was a strong demand of the local communities and especially the professionals of the Industrial Area, since with its construction the access to and from this area becomes immediate and without the need for a whole bypass through traffic jams as is the case until today.
The efforts to construct the road, which from the Industrial Area of Pafos - Geroskipou will end at the Northern Bypass in front of McDonalds, began with the initial planning in 2004. After the tendering process, the works would start in 2013, but they were cancelled like all other projects at the time due to the economic collapse and after many attempts they finally started in 2019.
With a delay of almost eight months and at a cost of EUR 6.5 million, the project is now ready. The Municipality of Pafos finances the project with 20%.
