Nicosia and Strovolos could face near-total traffic gridlock within the next decade if the Alexandroupoleos Road project is not built, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades has warned.
Responding to a parliamentary question, the minister said congestion levels could reach 99% saturation by 2034 without Alexandroupoleos Road, with indices potentially exceeding 100% – a threshold associated with major delays, long vehicle queues and severe environmental impacts.
Rising traffic pressures
Daily monitoring from the Public Works Department’s permanent traffic meters between 2023 and 2025 shows traffic increases of 7% to 10% in Strovolos and across the wider Nicosia road network.
According to Vafeades, traffic data used in a 2020 study is already lower than current real-world conditions, highlighting worsening pressure on the capital’s transport system.
A traffic study conducted in July 2020 by the department’s Traffic Studies and Road Safety Branch assessed projected impacts through to 2034 under both “with project” and “without project” scenarios.
Impact of the proposed road
Results from the “with project” scenarios for 2024, 2029 and 2034 indicate traffic load reductions of around 30% across the wider area and up to 70% within Strovolos’s municipal core.
The same study found that as early as 2020, the local road network was already operating near saturation limits above 86%, a finding confirmed by on-site inspections.
Without construction of Alexandroupoleos Road, congestion is expected to worsen significantly. Saturation indices could rise by 14% to 25%, reaching 99% and in some cases exceeding 100%, the minister said.
Environmental considerations
Vafeades noted that building Alexandroupoleos Road would significantly reduce pollutant emissions on Strovolos roads, with reductions of up to 60% in the municipal centre.
Under the “without project” scenario, residential areas and the urban core would face a substantial rise in traffic volumes and emissions.
A flora and fauna survey at the two planned bridge sites over the Pedieos river found no rare or threatened species likely to be affected. Most trees expected to be removed are non-native species such as eucalyptus and acacias.
During construction, hundreds of indigenous trees are planned to be planted, far exceeding those removed and contributing to long-term environmental enhancement, the minister said.
No viable alternative
Addressing questions about lower-cost or less environmentally burdensome alternatives, Vafeades said all possible options had been examined, including bypass solutions around the old Archbishop Kyprianos reservoir.
The adopted proposal was judged the most feasible and cost-effective, while alternative routes were considered harder to implement and potentially more damaging environmentally.
He added that existing connections are already saturated during peak hours and cannot accommodate the projected increase in through-traffic.
Updated studies and approvals
Traffic and environmental studies carried out over the past decade conclude that construction of Alexandroupoleos Road is essential, according to the minister.
An initial environmental assessment was completed in 2011 and received a positive decision from the Environmental Authority. Following redesigns and public consultations in 2014 and 2020, a revised study in 2021 also secured positive re-evaluation before being placed in public consultation ahead of a final decision.
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