Today is a key point for the future of transportation and the treatment of the acute traffic problem in Limassol. The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeadis, will attend and participate in a broad meeting with the mayors of the greater urban area of Limassol.
The meeting, which takes place at the Cultural Center of Agios Athanasios, has as its central thematic axis: "The prioritization of projects and interventions that can contribute to the decongestion of the road network".
The Government, recognizing the magnitude of the difficulties and the daily inconvenience of drivers in the urban region of Limassol, is coming to the meeting with a specific plan. Two main categories of road projects are put on the table, graded on the basis of their prioritization and implementation horizon.
These are direct intervention projects, in the short and medium term, with targeted traffic arrangements, minor improvements at critical junctions, construction and upgrades of roundabouts, as well as the implementation of smart traffic management systems (such as the UTC system).
The total budget of the proposed road and urban projects for Limassol is €493 million. The lion's share is directed to major arterial interventions and bypasses, such as the Limassol – Saitta motorway (€80 million), the second parallel Germasogeia – Agios Athanasios (€24 million) and the Northern Bypass Section of Ypsonas – Polemidia (€60 million).
At the same time, the projects that are in the phase of immediate implementation or tendering, the roundabout at the junction of Agios Athanasios and Anepikonioseos and the new exit from the Limassol Tower motorway (EAC exit) are only the first phase of a wider investment plan aimed at the definitive decongestion of the city.
The aim of these interventions is the immediate relief of the most congested roads of the city. On the table are projects that require more time, such as major urban and road infrastructure projects, avenue widening, new connecting roads and interchanges. These are projects that are at the stage of studies or design and require a wider time horizon for their completion, while ensuring the sustainable development of the city in the long term.
In addition to the already planned plans, during the meeting, Mr. Vafeadis is expected to officially ask the municipal authorities to submit their own additional proposals.
This initiative aims to co-shape a holistic and long-term plan for the entire Limassol district for the coming years, ensuring that the local needs of each municipality will be integrated into the national infrastructure planning.
As pointed out by sources in the Ministry, the Government fully recognizes the serious traffic problems faced by Limassol as a result of its rapid residential and business development.
The most important projects that stand out either on the basis of their high budget or because of their key role in decongesting the city's road network:
Projects of €10 million. and above
• North Bypass (Evagoras Lanitis Avenue) €30,000,000 (Construction Design)
• North Bypass (Cooperative and Nikaia Avenues) €30,000,000 (Construction Plan)
• Northern Bypass (Agios Athanasios – Germasogeia Section) €15,500,000 (Construction Plan)
• Northern Bypass (Agias Fyla, Mesa Geitonia & Agios Athanasios) €37,000,000 (Master Plan)
• Northern Bypass (Ypsonas – Polemidia Section) €60,000,000 (Master Plan)
• Second Parallel (Germasogeia and Agios Athanasios – Vythkion Avenue) €24,000,000 (Master Plan)
• North Parallel of Ypsonas – Polemidia (€30,000,000)
• Limassol – Saitta Motorway (Phase A2) €80,000,000 (Construction Plan)
• Ilias Kannaourou Avenue (Ypsonas – Kato Polemidia) €15,000,000 (Construction Design)
• Widening and improvement of Agios Athanasios Avenue (and sections of Kolonaki and G. Digeni Avenues) €30,000,000.
Priority projects
• Installation of a UTC regional traffic control system at 50 light-controlled junctions €3,000,000
• Implementation of interventions from a study for Polemidia, Troodos and Ag. Guarding €1.000.000
• Mesa Geitonia roundabout €685,000.
Strategic infrastructure projects
• 3rd Limassol Parallel / North Bypass
• Upgrade of the A1 Motorway to 6 lanes (Parekklisia Section – Germasogeia Roundabout)
• Construction of the 3rd level connection of G. Kranidioti Avenue (B8) with N.W. Pattichi Avenue
• Construction of Phase B – Germasogeia – Akrounta – Dierona – Arakapa Road.
