Akamas is once again turning into a field of controversy, on the occasion of the new plans for improvements and widening of the road network in the area.
The urgent letter of protest of the Cyprus Foundation for the Protection of the Environment Terra Cypria to the Minister of the Interior, which warns of an imminent risk of alteration of the area of Loutra Aphrodite – Fontana Amorosa, caused the immediate and dynamic reaction of the Municipality of Akamas.
With its announcement under the title "The false dilemma", the municipality clarifies its own position, rejecting the voices calling for the cancellation of the projects and posing the safety of human life as the dominant issue.
According to the data brought to light by Terra Cypria, the new studies of April 2026 for the Aphrodite Baths – Kakosscale section (1,800 meters long) are in complete conflict with the original, legally binding terms of 2021.
While the original design envisaged that the entire road would remain strictly one lane, with a roadway width of 3.5 to 4 meters, the new proposal increases the final width to 5 meters. This change, which will be achieved by partial excavation of slopes and widening at 14 points, essentially turns the road network into two traffic lanes, according to the environmental organization.
At the same time, the proposed works include the installation of a single, continuous safety barrier lined with wood, the complete smoothing and coating of the road surface with a stabilized mixture of gravel and sand, as well as the construction of concrete "Irish crossings" at 2-3 points for the drainage of water.
In the face of these criticisms, the Municipality of Akamas expresses strong concern about the interventions that ask for the necessary improvement of the road to be cancelled or frozen. In its announcement, the municipality poses a clear question: "Should it remain a dangerous road without substantial interventions, despite the three fatal accidents and dozens of injuries in the area?".
The local authority clarifies that the safety of citizens, visitors and rescue forces cannot be put on the back burner, stressing that just a visit to the site is enough to realize the great danger. At the same time, it categorically rejects the closure of the road as a solution. As he argues, the simple ban does not address the problem, as state services, workers and rescue teams will continue to use the network and be exposed to danger if the necessary safety interventions are not made.
The issue of fire protection is another point of friction. On the one hand, the Municipality of Akamas points out that the road is vital for fire protection, immediate intervention in incidents and the safe management of an area of high ecological value.
On the other hand, Terra Cypria deconstructs the argument of faster intervention. It counters that the existing width of the road is sufficient for forest fire-fighting vehicles. The real danger, according to the organization, is the trapping of the firefighting forces due to the uncontrolled and massive trafficking of private vehicles and four-wheeled motorcycles ("pigs"), a problem that will worsen rather than be solved, as the improvement of the road will sharply increase traffic.
As Terra Cypria officially asks the Ministry of the Interior to clarify the position of the Urban Planning Authority, with the interventions of the Audit Office and the Commissioner for the Environment on its side, the Municipality of Akamas claims that the area should not remain exposed to known risks and asks for solutions that protect biodiversity and human life at the same time.
