Filenews 18 November 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
The accessibility to Paphos International Airport on the occasion of the unfinished new road constructed from the tourist area of Kato Paphos to the unit and the objections of the Department of Environment and ecological organizations to its completion, but also the voices of protest against the shortcomings and problems of the existing road through the old Paphos-Limassol and Timi road, they are now back in the spotlight. The significant decrease in air traffic in the last month, due to the winter season, gives the opportunity to the competent bodies to deal with the problems of access to the unit, since this summer everyone's attention was exclusively focused on the huge increase in air traffic after the pandemic, which caused record numbers in the traffic of Paphos airport.
Pending the final decisions of the state departments on the second section of the new tourist area-airport road, the existing road to the airport will also be on the table this winter. With the aim of promoting the works for the construction of pavements and the installation of street lighting on the old Airport - Paphos road, and in particular on the section of the Timi - Acheleia road, the Member of Parliament for Paphos of AKEL, Valentinos Fakontis, sent a relevant letter to the District Engineer of the Department of Public Works of Paphos.
In his démarche, Mr. Fakontis emphasizes that this is an important road for the area, as it connects Paphos Airport and the communities of the eastern region with the centre of Paphos. In addition, in the blocks adjacent to this road, commercial activities are developed, increasing more traffic in the area, he observes.
"The lack of road lighting on this road further increases the risk of serious road accidents", according to the AKEL MP. "It is accepted by all stakeholders that the old Airport - Paphos road is very dangerous and needs immediate improvement".
Valentinos Fakontis' letter to the Paphos Department of Public Works, in an effort to speed up the procedures for improvement works, follows his respective memoranda to the competent ministries through the Parliament.
The efforts to improve the existing road axis follow the now chronic difficulty of those responsible for the completion of the new motorway that will end at Pafos airport. Objections to the impact of a Natura site and the fauna of the area, by the Ezousa river, are proving to be an insurmountable obstacle for the time being.
This time, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works himself opened a glimmer of hope during his recent visit to Paphos, where he examined the major pending or ongoing projects of the province. Speaking at a meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Pafos Parties and Organizations (SEKO) that examined the issue of the new airport-tourist area road, Yiannis Karousos said that an alternative route is being examined by the Department of Environment and the relevant opinion is expected, expressing the hope that this will be positive, since there is no longer any influence from Natura, as he stressed.
"We believe that this proposal can end up positively", said Mr. Karousos. "In view of this, a new meeting will take into account the outcome of the Environment Department's assessment to see how we proceed."
