Filenews 20 February 2026 - by Ioanna Kyriacou
The competent minister, Alexis Vafeadis, gave answers to the major road projects in progress and the progress of their implementation before the Transport Committee, following a scheduled briefing of the Ministry to the Parliamentary Committee. The minister listed the main road projects in all the provinces and provided an extensive briefing on their timetables. However, what caused an impression is the reference to urban plans that provide for the creation of an eightfold road in the Municipality of Lakatameia, in the context of the implementation of the Nicosia perimeter road.
In particular, as stated before the Committee, for the third phase of the perimeter, which concerns the roundabout of Anthoupoli to the Workers, bids are being evaluated. By April 2026, the ministry will be able to announce the contractor company. The second phase is divided into two actions. The first concerns the settlement of Anthoupoli up to Makariou Avenue in Lakatamia and is expected to be completed in 2028.
The second action starts from Makarios Avenue and ends at the large roundabout in Tseri. Public Works are preparing the tender documents and it is estimated that the tender will be announced within 2027. According to what has been heard, it includes four underground traffic lanes, while the upper road will consist of four more lanes, with a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour, bicycle paths, pedestrian paths and islets, as provided for by the urban planning. The underground lanes will be connected to the highway, while the upper road will help develop the area locally.
The above brought the reaction of the president of the Committee, Alekos Tryfonidis, who spoke of very negative consequences for the residents of the area. He even called on the Minister of Transport to immediately convene a meeting with the Urban Planning Department and all the stakeholders involved, in order to review the planning. For his part, Mr. Vafeadis replied that he understands the objections, stressing that the planning must satisfy not only the need of the residents to maintain the sense of neighbourhood, but also the need to provide a solution to the problem of traffic congestion. He expressed, however, readiness to continue the discussion so that a conclusion can be reached as soon as possible and the final studies can proceed.
At what stage is the Polis – Paphos road located?
Regarding the notorious case of the Polis-Paphos road, the Minister of Transport noted that two actions are underway. The first concerns the start of the implementation of the first part of the road – from Agia Marinouda to Stroumbi – which was announced in August. As Mr. Vafeadis recalled, there was an appeal by the contractor company to the Tender Review Authority, which, however, rejected all eleven objections raised by the company. As a result, the project was put back on track. The process was expected to be implemented around the end of February, however a one-month extension was given and the submission of bids will continue until the end of March. Mr. Vafeadis explained that the extension was given because it is a complex project and it was deemed necessary for the interested parties to be able to study the project better in order to prepare the offers. Asked about this, Mr. Vafeadis clarified that the former contractor has not taken legal action to create any obstacle to the development of the project. The legislation, he continued, does not exclude it from the bidding process. If an offer is submitted, then it will be judged at the evaluation stage." In relation to the second phase of the project, the studies have been completed and actions are being taken to proceed with the expropriations. Regarding the environmental issues that arise, the minister clarified that it is the subject of discussion and the response of the Department of Environment is awaited.
It is noted that for the improvement projects of the existing road, the director of the Department of Public Works, Lefteris Eleftheriadis, stated that the section of Tsada will be completed at the beginning of March and the rest of the section at the end of March to the beginning of April. It is recalled that the project was supposed to be completed by the end of February, however the director cited impediments due to the rainy weather.
They are waiting for the Game Service for the Limassol - Saita road
Regarding the Limassol - Saitta road, Mr. Vafeadis noted that the second phase of the road is progressing, while for the third phase, the Department of Public Works is starting the study and preparation of the tender documents. He clarified that the second phase is being redesigned due to the Natura regime and, therefore, in January, a study began to be prepared by the Game Service in order for the project to be announced. The goal, as he said, is to find out which points are affected, pointing out that the worst scenario is for the study to be completed at the end of May. In his intervention, the president of the Committee said that it is not possible for some services to put "obstacles" in development projects and called on the minister to bypass them. In response, Mr. Vafeadis clarified that the Game Service does not treat the issue hostilely, it simply seeks the implementation of European legislation.
Until the end of March, the Evrychou - Astromeritis road
By the end of March, the section of the Evrychou - Astromeritis road is expected to be delivered and the second phase of the Nicosia - Troodos road will be announced. In relation to the issues related to the exits, the minister said that contacts have been made with the communities but the relevant study has not yet been carried out. "The documents for the announcement have been completed, we have received from the EOA the development files so that they can be submitted to the Land Registry which is updated and is waiting to find out which plots are affected in order to proceed with the expropriations. There is coordination so that everything runs faster. The goal was to go out to tender in the first quarter of 2026, however there is a possibility that a one-month extension will be given. I am optimistic that this will be done by the end of April," noted Mr. Vafeadis. As far as the road to Palaichori is concerned, it will be completed in February 2027.
The Limassol bypass road is also progressing
Finally, referring to the northern bypass road of Limassol, the minister noted that the project is progressing normally. "The plan is that by the end of the year we will be very advanced in terms of the two phases of the bypass, i.e. the part of Evagoras Lanitis and the Cooperative. We will soon see developments and we believe that this is the main project that will give substantial breathing space to the traffic problem of Limassol. We will continue with the rest of the phases, such as the one concerning the section of Germasogeia to Agia Fyla. In its entirety, the bypass is expected to be completed within three years," the Minister concluded.
