Breath-taking projects that will change the hydrological and traffic map of Limassol are in the works and concern the construction of Evagoras Lanitis Avenue, which is part of the Northern Bypass, and the parallel diversion of the Agia Fyla River to Garyllis. The infrastructure projects for the urban area of Limassol aim both to decongest the road network and to protect the city against severe floods.
The total cost for the two projects is estimated at €32,450,000 (including VAT), while the construction horizon extends to 36 months, with the works set in the period 2027–2030, as recorded in the Information Report submitted to the Department of Environment on behalf of the Department of Urban Planning.
Evagoras Lanitis Avenue is part of the Limassol Northern Bypass Road (Primary Road Road), which was designed to connect the Municipality of Germasogeia to the east with the Municipality of Ypsonas to the west.
While most of the shaft has been constructed, the central section of about 500 meters in length remains pending. The project includes both the construction of this section and the reconstruction and upgrading of existing sections, with a total length of 2,500 meters.
The new avenue will have four traffic lanes, a central dividing island, sidewalks on both sides, a discrete bicycle path, green lanes, a roundabout and light-controlled junctions, with a total width of approximately 24.4 meters.
According to data from the Department of Public Works, the existing load amounts to 11,000 vehicles per day. With the completion of the construction project of Evagoras Lanitis Avenue, as part of the Northern Parallel Axis of Limassol and with an alignment from 1st April Avenue to Giannou Kranidioti Avenue, it is estimated that it will double reaching 20,000 vehicles per day, absorbing the through traffic that currently burdens Agia Fyla and decongesting the congested roundabouts of Agia Fyla and Troodos.
The construction period is expected to affect the daily life of the area. It is estimated that 80,000 – 90,000 sq.m. of excavation rubble will emerge. The materials that meet the specifications will be used for embankments, while the rest will be managed under the legislation on Construction and Demolition Waste (K.D.P. 112/2023).
A new soil seal of approximately 12,200 sq.m. will result. However, because the area is already urbanised, the hydrological impact is considered limited.
The project does not fall under a Natura 2000 area, the nearest is the Limassol Forest at 6.8 km. Polemidia Forest is located 250 meters to the north.
During the works, measures will be taken for safe access to homes, commercial premises and tutoring centers in the area. During the operational phase, the increase in traffic is expected to lead to a local increase in noise and pollutant emissions.
Flood protection project for the diversion of the river of Agia Fylaxeos
The second and extremely critical aspect of the project concerns flood protection, as the area falls under the Potentially Significant Flood Risk Areas (PDSPA).
Following a proposal by the District Local Government Organization (EOA) of Limassol, it was decided to completely divert the flood supplies of the Agia Fyla River to the Garyllis River. The rapid urban development of the area and the consequent increase in soil waterproofing were taken into account, in order to reduce the risk of flooding.
Today, the areas on either side of the riverbed south of the Interurban Railway often experience flooding, causing significant operational problems. These problems are expected to intensify with the gradual further urbanization of the Agia Fyla river basin and the increase of impermeable surfaces. The proposed project for the diversion of the flood runoff of the Agia Fyla River to the west seeks to reduce the flood risk in the downstream areas of Evagoras Lanitis Avenue and to improve the flood protection of the wider area.
For this purpose, an underground double rectangular reinforced concrete culvert, measuring 2 × (2.5m high × 3.0m wide), will be constructed under the new Evagoras Lanitis Avenue.
The culvert will be approximately 1,900 to 2,000 meters long and was designed to drain up to 40 m³/s of rainwater based on a hydrological study for a 50-year restoration period.
To maintain a smooth slope near the surface, the excavations will mainly range from 4.0 to 8.5 meters, while in a section of 370 meters the excavation depth will reach 8.0–9.0 meters.
The diversion will channel the waters of the Agia Fylaxeos river basin to the Garyllis River at the height of the Evagoras Lanitis area. It is noted that the existing runoff of the Agia Fyla basin ends up in the Garyllis River at a southerly point, through Ergatoudi Street and Spyros Kyprianou Avenue. In the context of the studies for the flood protection works in the area of Greater Limassol, as well as for the proposed diversion works, hydrological / hydraulic studies were carried out.
With the new year, the start of the works
Although the project is considered mature in terms of design, there are pending issues in relation to the cost of flood protection projects. The road project with a total cost of €10,450,000 (including VAT) is financed by 4/5 (80%) by the Department of Town Planning and Housing and by 1/5 (20%) by the Limassol Municipality.
The Contracting Authority will be the Department of Public Works, while the maintenance of the project, after the completion of the maintenance period by the contractor, will be undertaken by the Limassol Municipality. Regarding the project for the diversion of the Ayia Fyla River, the maintenance of the project will be undertaken by the EOA Limassol. Construction work is expected to start in 2027 and be completed in 2030, with an estimated total implementation time of around 36 months.
As far as the flood protection project with a total cost of €22,000,000 (including VAT) is concerned, as recorded in the report, its financing has not yet been finalized, while the issue of the assumption of the cost of the culvert by the EOA Limassol is pending.
The Ministry of Finance has requested the preparation of a viability study, while the project is not currently included in the budget of the Department of Urban Planning.
