The inhabitants of mountainous Limassol areas are prepared for vigorous actions in response to the significant inconvenience and delays caused by the prolonged completion of Phase A of the Limassol-Saittas motorway.
Despite an expected completion date of December 2023, as indicated by an extension granted, this now appears unrealistic, according to Lefteris Periklis, President of the Union of Limassol Communities and Mukhtar of Apesia.
The current situation is dire, with residents of mountainous communities facing daily challenges on this road network as they commute to and from their workplaces.
Phase A, spanning 3.6 kilometers, covers the section from the “Spyros Kyprianou” Athletic Center to the Palaodia exit, connecting to the Yiannos Kranidiotis Avenue.
Contracts for Phase A were signed on June 5, 2020, with the construction company Cyfield Construction, and the cost amounts to €31.09 million, including VAT. However, the construction company has reportedly requested a new extension until May 2024.
According to Mr. Periklis, the situation is chaotic, aggravated by traffic from two private schools. He emphasized the urgency, especially during mornings when queues of vehicles start from the Agia Irini monastery, leading to extended travel times for even short distances.
The congestion is not limited to the construction area but also affects the northern region of Limassol and the mountainous communities.
Frustrated residents express their readiness to mobilize and take action, as they can no longer endure the ongoing inconvenience.
Furthermore, Mr. Periklis mentioned that private schools should utilize buses for transporting students, but this has not been implemented.
The planned Phase B announcement following the completion of Phase A seems unattainable. Mr. Periklis expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he has learned that the 2024 budget does not include the project, and the procedures for expropriations have not commenced at the Land Registry.
The project design involves a four-lane road with a central median strip, an asymmetric junction near the educational institutions in Palaodia, and a smaller roundabout at the endpoint of Phase A.
Additionally, the project includes secondary road networks totaling 7 kilometers, with four circular junctions, an overpass, and an underground passage.
