Aktaia Odos was for decades a point that most Limassolians passed by. An area behind the port, connected to old factories, abandoned buildings, warehouses and the Shipyard. An area with history, but without an essential place in the daily life of the city. Today, Aktaia Odos is facing the greatest transformation in its history.
The Limassol Municipality plans to create a new coastal front that will change the way citizens move, walk and enjoy their city. A project that is not just about a road, but about a new public space that will connect the port with the center of Limassol and open the city to the sea.
The mayor of Limassol, Yiannis Armeftis, in an interview with "F", presents the planning of the municipal authority for the area, talks about the next steps, the great development that is coming, the investments that are already in progress, but also the big issue of the relocation of the Shipyard.
The area, which for years was a "forgotten neighbourhood" of Limassol, is now at the center of interest of large investors. Old industrial facilities are gaining new life, being transformed into places of culture and events, while at the same time new developments are being planned that will change the image of the coastal front. The big bet, however, is one. Development should be done in a way that will leave space for the citizen.
"We want to connect the port with the city center"
"Aktaia Odos is the space that can connect the port with the city center. This is our main goal. We want to create a space with the character of a linear park, with priority given to pedestrians and cyclists. A space that will be able to accommodate modern forms of transportation, such as public transport such as the bus and, if it proves viable, the future prospect of the tram. We are not just talking about a road redevelopment. We are talking about a new public space that will connect different areas of the city and give quality of life to the residents."
As Yiannis Armeftis explains, Aktaia Odos is an integral part of the overall strategy to promote sustainable urban mobility.
"It will be connected to the networks of pedestrian and bicycle paths that are being developed in the city, but also to the green routes. It will create new recreational areas and access to the sea for the western districts of Limassol."
The first interventions have already begun
Before the major redevelopment, the Municipality proceeded with a series of projects so that the area could begin to change its image. "From the first moment we started cleaning the beach. We demolished buildings, planted more than 500 saplings, created a one-kilometer-long pedestrian and bicycle path that has been illuminated with photovoltaics and can now be enjoyed by the people of Limassol, while we built a bridge. At the same time, we removed about 3,000 tons, almost 300 trucks with rubble and objects that had turned the area into a dump."
As he states, the goal is for citizens to see changes even before the major project is completed. "We want the spaces to be gradually handed over to society and used by the citizens. This allows us to see in practice how they work and what the real needs are."
At the same time, the Limassol Municipality is proceeding with the next small but substantial step for the connection of the area with the port. The design for the last section, approximately 400 meters long, which will connect the Garyllis River area with the roundabout at the entrance of the port's passenger terminal, is currently being completed.
This is an intervention that is considered decisive, as it creates the first real connections between the coastal front, Aktaia Odos and the port, paving the way for the overall unification of the area. According to the planning of the Municipality, the tenders for the implementation of the temporary route to the port are expected to be announced in June.
The architectural competition and the new development model
The Limassol Municipality is already preparing the next big step, the architectural competition that is expected to be announced in 2027. "There is a decision of the Municipal Council to promote the project through an architectural competition. At this time, the necessary ripening takes place.
The municipal authority has already started the preparation process, with the participation of academic bodies and specialized consultants. "We are proceeding with the maturation of the project for the announcement of an architectural competition. Our team of advisors includes the University of Cyprus and Frederick, who contribute to the formulation of the terms of the competition. At the same time, a first master plan is being prepared, the study area and the wider development area have been determined, so that there is a complete picture of how the entire zone will develop."
As part of the preparation, the Municipality has already started contacts with all the key stakeholders involved, as the success of the project requires coordination between the public and private sectors. "A meeting has already taken place with DP World and Eurogate, the companies operating in the port. In July, we will have contacts with all the major landowners in the area, but also with the public services involved, such as Urban Planning, Public Works and the Department of Environment."
The goal is to open the dialogue with society by September, through workshops and presentations to the public, so that the views and needs of the citizens can be part of the final formulation of the terms of the competition.
"All these meetings are an integral part of the process, so that the terms of the architectural competition can be properly prepared." The mayor notes that there is already a decision of the Municipal Council to promote the project through an architectural competition, however the necessary technical and organizational preparation precedes.
"The maturation of the project is needed, the formation of the Committee that is already progressing, but also the creation of an Organizing Committee that will undertake the organization and implementation of the competition."
New location for the Shipyard – "The solution is not closure, but organized transportation"
At the heart of the planning for the Aktaia Odos is the issue of the Shipyard, which is one of the biggest issues that need to be addressed in order to proceed with the overall regeneration of the area.
"The solution is not the closure of businesses. The solution is to move them to an organized space. It is not possible for a country like Cyprus, with so many marinas and such an important presence in shipping, not to have a modern shipyard." In order to do this, as he emphasizes, the government needs to find a suitable place by the sea, where these businesses will be able to operate safely, with respect for the environment and with the right infrastructure."
He explains that the responsibility for the location of a new space lies with the State, to ensure that businesses can develop in a modern context. According to the mayor, the current situation creates significant restrictions, as the area is in a beach protection zone and the current uses are no longer in line with the wider planning and future needs of the area.
Development with respect to the industrial past – The towers and the new image of the city
The region has already been targeted by large investments. New projects are being planned, while old industrial facilities are getting new uses. Asked to comment on how to ensure that development does not alter the identity of the area, Mr. Armeftis pointed out that development is welcome, but there must be a balance
"The area has its own history. Industrial buildings are part of Limassol's identity and we need to find ways to preserve and utilize them, especially for cultural and other uses."
The area is expected to change drastically in the coming years, as the existing urban planning framework allows the development of tall buildings. Based on the Area Plan, developments of up to 30 floors and a height of up to 120 meters are allowed. The construction of the first large tower over 30 floors is already in progress, while new investments are expected to follow.
