If you happened to wonder "why there is no lighting at some highway entrances and exits, with the risk of causing accidents", you are not alone. The issue was also examined by the Ministry of Transport, which is already promoting electric lighting at 11 highway entrances and exits while planning electric lighting at other entrances/exits.
The lighting concerns the junctions of Lympia, Zygi and Choirokoitia-Kalavasos, Parekklisia, Moutagiakka, Agios Tychonas and Akti Givaniti, Kornos, Anarita (road B6) up to Paphos airport (E603) and Pyla.
It is noteworthy that 90-95% of LED lamps are already installed throughout the road network of motorways (junctions and islets).
The issue of the absence of lighting at motorway junctions was raised by the MP of Larnaca, Mr. Prodromos Alambritis, with a question to the Minister of Transport, Mr. Alexis Vafeadis, who in response also states the following:
At this stage, the Department of Public Works, in collaboration with the Department of Electromechanical Services (EHR), gave priority to electric lighting at 11 highway entrances and exits, and at a later stage others will follow.
Specifically, for the electrification of the Lympia, Zygi and Choirokoitia-Kalavasos interchanges, the study of the Project has been completed and the tender for the construction of this project was announced on 17/3/2025. Due to the fact that the lowest financial bid submitted was 26% higher than the cost estimate of the Department of Public Works, the Tender Council rejected the proposal for award. The Department of Public Works has re-announced the project on July 24, 2025. It is noted that the construction cost of the project is estimated to be in the order of €2.2 million. plus VAT, of which, €1.7 million. are co-financed by the Connecting Europe Fund (CEF).
For four interchanges (Parekklisia, Moutagiakka, Agios Tychonas and Governor's Coast) it is expected that at the beginning of September 2025, the electrical studies of the interchanges will be sent by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, so that private designers can be assigned the preparation of plans and documents for their contracted execution. Their construction is expected to begin in early 2027.
Regarding the Kornos interchange, the EHR Department has completed the tender award process and work began on the installation of the street lighting columns by the successful Contractor on June 20, 2025.
For the electric lighting of other entrances/exits on motorways, an evaluation will follow in collaboration with the Department of Electrical and Computer Science at a later stage and it will be proposed as a matter of priority either their inclusion in the next budgets of the Department of Public Works, or their consideration for a possible co-financing by European funds. It is noted that the amount that has been included in the budget of the Department for the period 2027-2029, and concerns the electric lighting of the Governor's Coast, Moutagiaka, Agios Tychonas and Parekklisia interchanges, amounts to €3.8 million. plus VAT, while for the Kornos interchange, the amount amounts to €215,000 for 2025."
When asked by Mr. Alambritis whether there is an intention to use energy-efficient technologies (LEDs, photovoltaics, etc.) to reduce costs and ensure continuous lighting operation, the minister clarifies that 90-95% of LED-type lamps are already installed throughout the highway road network (junctions and islets).
Finally, it is reported that Pyla has the first node whose lighting works with photovoltaics.
