€108 million SECOND PHASE OF PAPHOS-POLIS MOTORWAY EDGES CLOSER TO TENDER - KNews 1/8 by Dorita Yiannakou
The government is seeking to avoid further delays to one of Cyprus' most anticipated road projects.
Thursday's meeting in Paphos, chaired by Transport, Communications and Works Minister Alexis Vafeades, aimed to bring together and coordinate all the authorities involved in the tender process for the construction of the second phase of the Paphos–Polis Chrysochous motorway.
At a time when the Tenders Board has yet to decide on the award of the contract for the motorway's first phase, where Cyfield Construction Limited submitted a bid of €124.85 million and Araco Construction Cy Limited, a company with Lebanese interests, submitted a bid of €128.94 million, efforts are being made by all the relevant government departments to speed up procedures and avoid further delays to the overall project.
According to information given to Kathimerini, the two bids remain under review by the Tenders Board, with a clearer picture expected by the end of the summer.
As for the second phase, which covers approximately 15 kilometers, the land expropriation process is currently underway. This phase includes the construction of two additional traffic lanes to upgrade the road to motorway standards where planned, completion of the Stroumbi–Polis Chrysochous section, as well as the construction of the required bridges, engineering works, interchanges and connections to the local road network, in line with the project's final designs.
The aim is to launch the tender as soon as the necessary procedures have been completed. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works is still examining the possibility of carrying out the first and second phases simultaneously, provided the relevant procedures allow it. According to the same sources, the second phase is estimated to cost €108 million, excluding VAT.
During yesterday's meeting in Paphos, the Transport Minister was expected to ask all the authorities involved to submit their recommendations so that any outstanding issues could be resolved before the tender for the second phase is issued.
Speaking to Kathimerini, Mr. Vafeades said the successful delivery of the project depends on close coordination between all the competent departments in order to keep the project on schedule.
He also referred to past projects where insufficient cooperation between the various authorities resulted in delays that ultimately led to financial claims by contractors, increasing costs for the state.
For that reason, yesterday's meeting sought to secure the necessary commitments from all parties to ensure common planning and continuous coordination throughout the project's implementation.
Mr. Vafeades also stressed that the Paphos district has been waiting for this project for many years. He described it as vital not only for supporting tourism and other economic activities but also for improving residents' daily lives through a safer road network and shorter travel times.
The government is seeking to avoid further delays to one of Cyprus' most anticipated road projects.
Thursday's meeting in Paphos, chaired by Transport, Communications and Works Minister Alexis Vafeades, aimed to bring together and coordinate all the authorities involved in the tender process for the construction of the second phase of the Paphos–Polis Chrysochous motorway.
At a time when the Tenders Board has yet to decide on the award of the contract for the motorway's first phase, where Cyfield Construction Limited submitted a bid of €124.85 million and Araco Construction Cy Limited, a company with Lebanese interests, submitted a bid of €128.94 million, efforts are being made by all the relevant government departments to speed up procedures and avoid further delays to the overall project.
According to information given to Kathimerini, the two bids remain under review by the Tenders Board, with a clearer picture expected by the end of the summer.
As for the second phase, which covers approximately 15 kilometers, the land expropriation process is currently underway. This phase includes the construction of two additional traffic lanes to upgrade the road to motorway standards where planned, completion of the Stroumbi–Polis Chrysochous section, as well as the construction of the required bridges, engineering works, interchanges and connections to the local road network, in line with the project's final designs.
The aim is to launch the tender as soon as the necessary procedures have been completed. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works is still examining the possibility of carrying out the first and second phases simultaneously, provided the relevant procedures allow it. According to the same sources, the second phase is estimated to cost €108 million, excluding VAT.
During yesterday's meeting in Paphos, the Transport Minister was expected to ask all the authorities involved to submit their recommendations so that any outstanding issues could be resolved before the tender for the second phase is issued.
Speaking to Kathimerini, Mr. Vafeades said the successful delivery of the project depends on close coordination between all the competent departments in order to keep the project on schedule.
He also referred to past projects where insufficient cooperation between the various authorities resulted in delays that ultimately led to financial claims by contractors, increasing costs for the state.
For that reason, yesterday's meeting sought to secure the necessary commitments from all parties to ensure common planning and continuous coordination throughout the project's implementation.
Mr. Vafeades also stressed that the Paphos district has been waiting for this project for many years. He described it as vital not only for supporting tourism and other economic activities but also for improving residents' daily lives through a safer road network and shorter travel times.
