The Cypriot authorities announced the launch of new projects that should help solve one of the main problems of Limassol – traffic jams.
The Ministry of Transport, together with the municipalities of the region, begins to prepare a number of infrastructure changes aimed at unloading roads and improving the quality of life in the city.
Cypriot Transport Minister Alexis Vafiadis met with the mayors of Limassol municipalities to discuss short-term and long-term measures to modernize the transport system. According to him, the city’s road network can no longer cope with the load, since about 10 thousand new cars are registered annually in Limassol. That is why the authorities intend to accelerate the implementation of large projects and determine funding priorities.
The main project remains the northern bypass of Limassol – a large-scale highway that should run parallel to the existing highway along the coast. It is planned that the new route will connect the districts of Germasoya and Amatus in the east with Ipsonas and Kourion in the west. The project has been discussed for almost 20 years, but now the authorities expect to move to the active phase. It is expected that tenders for the construction of the first three sections of the road will be announced by the end of 2026. The preliminary cost of the project is estimated at almost 200 million euros.
Particular attention is also paid to the development of public transport. Authorities acknowledge that the existing Park & Ride system in Limassol is not yet being used effectively enough. At the same time, the ministry believes that it is impossible to solve the problem of traffic jams without an alternative to personal cars. The city plans to expand parking spaces, increase the number of buses and gradually introduce dedicated lanes for public transport.
At the same time, the minister stressed that bus lanes should be launched only after the creation of a full-fledged infrastructure. According to the authorities, empty lanes without enough buses will only cause additional discontent among drivers.
Mayor Yannis Armeftis said that residents of the city are already tired of daily congestion, and every delay in the implementation of projects makes the situation more and more difficult. He also confirmed that the possibility of a tram is being studied in Limassol. A preliminary study is underway to show how effective such a project will be for the city.
Transport load is especially felt in the western part of the region. According to Mayor Pantelis Georgiou, about 35 thousand cars pass through the main roads of the municipality every day out of a total flow of 90 thousand cars moving along the highway.
Experts note that transport modernization is becoming critical for Limassol amid active population growth, the construction of new residential complexes and an increase in tourist flow. The city continues to be one of the main business and investment centers of Cyprus, which means that the load on the roads will only grow.
Источник: cyprus-mail.com
https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/limassol-zadyixaetsya-ot-probok
