A new page in road safety and rural development was written yesterday with the delivery to the public of the Astromeritis – Evrychou highway, bringing the mountain communities of Solea, Marathasa and Pitsilia closer to Nicosia.
This is the fourth phase of the Nicosia-Troodos axis that gives a significant breath of fresh air for thousands of residents who have been demanding faster access to hospitals, schools and services for decades.
The works started in 2022 and were completed yesterday, within the revised schedule and budget, despite the challenges that arose during its implementation.
The new motorway, 11.3 km long, was implemented by the Cybarco–Pharmakas J.V. consortium under the supervision of the Department of Public Works. The total cost amounted to €88,630,000 (€74,477,000 + VAT), with the project delivered within budget and a revised schedule.
The new motorway drastically reduces the travel time between Nicosia and the mountainous areas. The same is true in reverse. For the residents of Nicosia, mountainous Cyprus is becoming more accessible than ever, for tourism, for local products, for visiting small businesses or even for permanent settlement. This two-way mobility is expected to act as a springboard for economic activity in the countryside and contribute to the effort to halt the urbanization that has plagued mountain communities for decades.
The project includes four traffic lanes, an interchange in the Koutrafa area, a terminal roundabout and a 750-meter-long viaduct.
It is also worth noting a first, since for the first time recycled asphalt material was used in a public project in Cyprus, a choice that reduces construction waste and gives the project the character of sustainable development.
The handover of the highway does not mean that the Department of Public Works closes the file. Following the contacts and consultation with the residents of the area, it has committed to work on improving some highway exits, while enhancing their safety. This is an important detail: it shows that local communities were not just spectators of the work, but interlocutors who were heard.
Delivery is undoubtedly an important step. A project that was completed within budget, that listened to residents, that introduced innovative sustainability practices. But a highway is not a panacea, nor is it enough on its own. The last phase is needed. Improvements in the exits are needed. Investments are needed in services, digital infrastructure, incentives for the return of elderly residents and young couples who want a quieter life in the countryside.
Vafeadis: A key project for the countryside with a continuation of €100 million.
In his address, the Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeadis, stressed that the project was completed despite the challenges of the mountainous terrain and the international pressures on the supply chain.
"The implementation of such projects proves that our planning is not limited to urban centers, but is consistently extended to the countryside," said Mr. Vafeadis, giving the signal for the continuation, i.e. the implementation of the Denia-Astromeritis section (17 km), which will fully complete the axis.
The next phase, which is in the expropriation stage, is expected to be announced by the Department of Public Works by next September, with the cost estimated at €100 million. plus VAT.
"A project that for years was a key priority, and which today is now part of the daily life of citizens, facilitating movement and strengthening the connection of Nicosia with the countryside," he said.
This project was implemented as a project of significant public interest, in the context of the national strategy for the development of mountainous areas, responding to long-standing requests of the areas of Solea and Marathasa.
According to Mr. Vafeadis, the construction of the project was carried out in demanding conditions, due to the mountainous terrain and the passage through environmentally sensitive areas. At the same time, he noted, international developments and pressures on the supply chain created additional difficulties.
He pointed out that the implementation of such projects proves in practice that the planning is not limited to urban centers, but is consistently extended to the countryside, with the aim of balanced development throughout the country.
The Department of Public Works calls on the public to comply with the new road signs and boundaries and to exercise due caution during the first days of operation of the road.
