Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki visited Agia Fyla in Limassol on Friday to examine plans for opening and connecting Idomeneos Street, a project expected to help ease traffic congestion in the area.
The visit was attended by the Mayor of Limassol, representatives of municipal groups, the Friends of Agia Fyla Association, the Limassol District Director of the Public Works Department and other officials.
Construction planned for January 2027
Tsolaki said the visit focused on how the opening of Idomeneos Street will proceed and its connection with Sfaktirias Street, providing an alternative route towards Fasoula and Agios Athanasios.
Although relatively small in scale, the project is expected to have a significant impact on residents’ daily lives by reducing congestion, particularly traffic travelling from Agia Fyla towards the roundabout.
The minister said construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027. The plans have already been presented, funding has been secured and the relevant authorities are preparing to invite tenders.
According to the Public Works Department, construction is expected to take approximately three to four months from the start of work.
Technical challenges identified
Tsolaki noted that the project faces some technical challenges despite its limited size.
During the site visit, officials identified landslides caused by recent heavy rainfall, while interventions will also be required concerning drainage infrastructure and overall road safety.
The minister stressed that being present on site and ensuring cooperation among all parties involved can help resolve such issues more quickly.
Project offers temporary relief
The Mayor of Limassol described the visit as important for an area facing significant daily traffic problems.
He said areas north of the Nicosia-Paphos motorway are particularly congested, with the Municipal Council having agreed to the opening of Idomeneos Street as part of the ministry’s proposals.
The new connection, together with planned works on Elli Lampeti Street, is expected to provide drivers with an alternative route and function as a bypass, helping reduce pressure on the roundabout.
The mayor stressed, however, that the project would provide only temporary relief rather than a comprehensive solution to Limassol’s traffic problems.
He also highlighted the need to advance the Limassol northern bypass, describing it as an essential project for managing increasing traffic.
More than 100,000 people live in areas north of the motorway, he said, while Limassol and surrounding communities have expanded significantly in recent years.
Northern bypass remains a priority
Tsolaki agreed that advancing the northern bypass is the major challenge for Limassol.
She said she is in constant contact with the relevant authorities to determine which procedures remain outstanding and how they can be accelerated within the legal framework.
She also referred to the section of Evagora Laniti Street planned to connect Gianni Kranidioti Avenue with 1st April Street, saying ways are being examined to avoid time-consuming procedures where possible.
Tsolaki stressed that the success of such projects requires close cooperation between the ministry, local authorities and other relevant bodies.
Links with other roads considered important
Friends of Agia Fyla Association President Kostas Charalambides also stressed the need to combine the Idomeneos project with other road interventions in the area.
Charalambides thanked the minister for her immediate response and site visit, noting that the new connection could improve access towards eastern Limassol.
He stressed, however, that meaningful congestion relief would require the project to be combined with the planned works on Elli Lampeti Street.
He also described the advancement of the Evagora Laniti project as important, expressing the view that implementing the two interventions could provide significant, albeit temporary, relief to traffic in the area.
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