Filenews 11 November 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
The not one, not two, but nine major projects for the redevelopment and beautification of areas that have been carried out in the last two years in the city of Pafos, are recognized by all as a necessary condition for the harmonization of the city with modern needs and for the aesthetic and functional improvement of the daily life of its citizens.
With everyone's patience in the red, the situation seems to be improving lately: Two of the most important construction sites that caused traffic jams have now been completed and the "new" areas have now been given to citizens for use. These are the central Griva Digeni Avenue, which leads from the eastern entrance of the Municipality of Paphos to its historic centre and Neophytou Nikolaidi Avenue, essentially the parallel of the Griva Digenis axis that starts from the Makarios and Resistance Monument and ends at the Paphos District Court.
Two of the city's most important road and commercial axes are revealed today after the completion of many years of work, largely justifying the exhortations of those responsible for "patience". A new upgraded image, clearly upgraded aesthetics, improvements to functional issues such as parking lots, pedestrian and bicycle paths, as well as improvements to the urban equipment and facades of the buildings along them, create a much more attractive package for the passer-by to and from the central area of Paphos.
Especially Griva Digenis, which was given to traffic only recently, has completely changed to the most impressive. Aided by the fact that improvement works were carried out along its length at other points of reference in Pafos, such as the Archaeological Museum and the House of the District Officer, this avenue is today impressive as an image for its user.
Two large construction sites have now left the daily life of Paphos, two more are in full swing with daily painful consequences for commuters in central parts of the city. The large construction site of Ellados and Evagoras Pallikaridis avenues causes the most important road problems in the city, while it is the one with the longest duration. Both the extent of the area covered by the projects, as well as the necessary partial promotions of the project, continue to be the "weak link" in the efforts for even partial decongestion in the city centre.
The northern part of Ellados, by Dasoudi, has now been given to traffic, with the construction site being transferred to the southern end, at the junction with Evagora Pallikaridi. A development that probably creates additional difficulties for the time being, pending the total completion of the work.
Similarly, works are underway in the southern part of the shopping centre, with the road leading from the central square to the tourist area, but also the entire section to the traditional "bazaar" being closed to traffic, causing traffic jams on a daily basis.
In addition to the central axes of Griva Digeni and Neophytou Nikolaidi, the situation has now normalized in the coastal area of Kato Pafos, where the works for the unification of the archaeological sites have finally been completed.
After delays, changes of preferred bidders and angry reactions of businessmen and road users, the Municipality of Paphos and the competent state departments moved urgently and effectively now to the side of the contractor, as a result of which the situation that prevailed changed and now the traffic to and from the harbour is fully normalized.
