€86.8m contract signed for section of new Paphos-Polis road

The government on Thursday signed a contract for a €86.8m project involving the construction of a stretch of road between Ayia Marinouda and Stroumpi, which is part of the new Paphos to Polis road.

The contract, awarded to Greek company Intrakat, entails the design and construction of a 15.5-kilometre two-lane road from Ayia Marinouda to Stroumpi and a study to upgrade it into a motorway in the future.

The project includes a flyover junction connecting it with the Limassol to Paphos motorway and a roundabout in Tsada where it terminates.

It would also have two tunnels, measuring 720 and 290 metres respectively, five bridges measuring 1,500m, nine underpasses and two overpasses.

Additional lanes measuring 12km will also be constructed to ease traffic in areas with uphill sections.

Construction is expected to start at the end of this month and is scheduled to be completed in 42 months.

The entire road to Polis is 31km.

Communities in northern Paphos have long been pressing for the construction of a highway they say is essential to end the isolation which is holding back economic growth in the area.

Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said the road was expected to upgrade the quality of life and living standards of the wider area and stop people from moving to larger towns to find work.

“The realisation of the project finally brings Polis Chrysochous closer,” he said.

Polis Mayor Yiotis Papachristophi described the road as the most important development project in the district and one of the most important in Cyprus.

The mayor said it would resolve serious safety problems and define the prospects of economic and tourist development in the district, especially Polis.

Papachristophi suggested that the lack of a proper road network acted as a deterrent to investors interested in developing the area.