Filenews 28 January 2023 - byIoanna Mantzipa
A large construction site has been converted in the Limassol district for several months now with dozens of development and infrastructure projects underway. Limassol has been described as the "economic lung" of Cyprus as large multinational companies operate in the city, while millions are constantly invested in new developments.
2023 for Limassol will be a special year as important projects are completed that will upgrade and connect the city with the mountain communities, offering multiple benefits to all. The completion of important road works will contribute to the further improvement of living conditions, transportation and qualitative upgrading of the daily life of the inhabitants of the province. At the same time, by the end of 2023, Limassol acquires strong flood protection.
Among the projects that are expected to be completed in 2023, "F" singled out the most important ones that will serve thousands of residents of both the city and the province. Some 10 major projects of the order of more than €75 million are currently under way.
First phase of the Limassol-Saitta motorway
One of the most important projects is the first phase of the Limassol-Saitta motorway under construction, which is expected to be completed in December 2023. This is the largest ongoing project of the Limassol district which upon its completion will facilitate thousands of drivers using this road network as well as permanent residents of the mountain villages.
According to the Public Works, the design of the major project is promoted in three phases and its total length will be 22.5 km. The first phase, with a length of 3.6 km, concerns the section from the Spyros Sports Center Kyprianou to the exit of Palodia, where it will be the continuation of Giannou Kranidiotis Avenue. The contracts for phase A were signed on June 5, 2020 with the contractor Cyfield Construction with the cost amounting to €31.09 million. including VAT. The motorway will be four-lane with a central dividing island, with an interchange in the area of the schools in Palodia and a smaller roundabout at the point where the first phase of the road will end.
Finally the suffering in the core of Germasogeia
Another remarkable project that will serve a large number of citizens and will put an end to the inconvenience of many years, is the construction of the Germasogeia bypass (Phase A) with a length of 2 km, as well as a secondary road network with a length of 1.5 km. The aim of the project is to bypass the core of the Municipality of Germasogeia and decongest the densely populated area, while it will also contribute significantly to the improvement of road safety conditions. The bypass road (Phase A) starts from the Germasogeia interchange and ends at Isabellas Street. The delivery of the project costing €5,995,000 is expected to take place in October 2023, while the contracts were signed on July 3, 2020 with the consortium "TEKAL S.A. – Makis Savvides & Sons (Contractors) Limassol Ltd.
The road of Akrounta and Dierona
This is a road project of great importance, especially for the communities of Akrounta and Dierona, whose residents have been suffering for about four years traveling a long distance to and from Limassol, since the road is still under construction. The project started in September 2019 by the company Cyfield Construction, however due to several difficulties and geotechnical and geological problems that arose, there was a long delay. As reported to us by the Public Works, the phase A project concerns the section between Akrounta and Dierona is expected to be delivered in September 2023. The first phase of the project is 8 km long and its estimated value is €6.9 million. which is funded by the Republic of Cyprus.
Road network for the new stadium
The football matches at the new Limassol stadium "Alphamega Stadium" may have begun, but the road network upgrade works in the area will be delivered in phases, while the project will be fully completed in October 2023 at a cost of €9.09 million. The contract for the start of the construction of the road network for the new stadium in Kolossi was signed on January 28, 2022 with the company Iacovou Brothers (Constructions) Ltd. The project includes Spyrou Avenue Kyprianou, Tassos Isaac Street and four new ramps (entrance / exit) to and from the motorway (A6) according to the construction plans.
Flood proofing
An end to the serious flood problems that have plagued Limassol for years, is expected to be given by the flood protection works. Currently, two major flood protection projects with a total budget of approximately €30 million are being implemented by the SALA. The first concerns the flood protection project in greater Limassol and the second, in the city centre. The two projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
The flood protection project of the centre costs €7 million, and provides for the construction of large stormwater culverts, with a total length of more than 4 kilometres, to channel rainwater to the bed of the River Garillis, so as to block the course of the water to the historic centre of the city. This is a very difficult task as it involves extensive excavations on a total of 27 streets in the city centre, many of which are main roads with heavy traffic and increased commercial activity.
The second, of greater Limassol, is extended to all five Municipalities (Limassol, Kato Polemidia, Mesa Geitonia, Agios Athanasios and Germasogeia) and the cost was estimated at €20 million. It provides for the construction of a huge stormwater network, consisting of tubular and rectangular pipelines with a total length of more than 21 km.
