Filenews 1 July 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
Today takes on a historic dimension for the district of Pafos. After almost four decades of continuous and unsuccessful efforts to acquire a modern road network leading from Paphos to the Chrysochous area, work has now begun on the ground. Today, in a deserted and remote point in the north of the city of Paphos, between Marathouda and Tsada, the opening ceremony of the works for the construction of the new motorway took place a short time ago.
The bulldozers turned on machines in the presence of the competent Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Giannis Karousos, who, from a special platform set up in the area, saw the machines begin the first earthworks.
This is a historic day for the District of Pafos, Mr. Karousos said characteristically in his greeting, since an announcement by the President of the Republic, in which he had set as a priority, a long-awaited project, a timeless request of the Local Government Authorities of the area for decades, is entering the course of implementation with multiple benefits for the Polis Chrysochous area, the Pafos District and the whole of Cyprus.
He added that the implementation of the project falls within the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, as part of the main road network of Cyprus, with the aim of revitalizing and sustainable development of the Pafos District. As an island state, Cyprus relies entirely on road transport for domestic travel, which often causes difficulties in accessibility to basic services, but also to the transport of people and goods.
The Minister of Transport made special reference to the benefits that the Project is expected to have for the residents of the Polis Chrysochous area. Our goal, Mr. Karousos said, is to facilitate mainly the accessibility of the residents of this remote area, but also to upgrade the infrastructure in the road network and consequently to solve road safety problems.
Among other things, the Minister said, it is expected that the new road will contribute to the economic and tourist development of the Polis Chrysochous area, since it will facilitate the attraction of investments in the region, the implementation of new and innovative business ideas, with consequent benefits for the creation of jobs, and the attraction of visitors and tourists from Cyprus and abroad. The existence of safe road connectivity and the development of economic activity in the area will reduce the phenomenon of internal and external migration of the economically active population, upgrading the quality of life of the inhabitants of the area.
The project concerns the design and construction (design&build) of a two-lane road initially from Agia Marinouda to Stroumpi, with a length of 15.5 km and a cost of €86,845,010 (vat included). In the future, the road will be upgraded to a four-lane highway. The route starts from the Limassol - Paphos highway near Agia Marinouda and ends at the existing road after Stroumpi.
The first phase includes the construction of an interchange for connection with the Limassol - Paphos motorway, a roundabout in Tsada and one at the finish point after Stroumpi. Provision is also made for the construction of two perforated tunnels with a length of 720m. and 290m. each, five viaduct bridges with a total length of 1,500m, two overpasses and nine underpasses. Finally, due to the uphill of the road, additional lanes of traffic will be built over a long length (about 12 km).
In its entirety, the motorway will be 31 km long and will be completed in two phases. For the second phase there is a preliminary study and the competent Departments proceed gradually with the rest of the phases of the process.
