A two-year, €7m project to upgrade Kapparis avenue in Protaras will get underway this month following the signing of the relevant contracts in the presence of Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris and Paralimni Mayor Theodoros Pyrillis

Public works department head Antonis Koutsoullis signed the contracts on Wednesday on behalf of the government, and Nicholas Lois on behalf of the Lois Builders and Wade Adams Contracting consortium that will be responsible for the works.

The project will take on the northernmost part of Kapparis avenue, which according to Paralimni municipality, has not been included in any recent improvement works so far.

The works will cover a two kilometre long stretch of road starting north of the existing roundabout and ending at the buffer zone bordering Kennedy avenue in occupied Famagusta.

The announcement said there will also be improvements in Yiorkis Papadopoulos and Apollonos streets, as well as a secondary road network with double lanes, pavements and bike lanes close to Lefkados street.

All other passing roads will be improved about 30 metres from the main road, with the exception of access to Lefkados Street which will be cut off.

The main road network includes two traffic lanes with parking spaces on both sides (parallel parking), paved pavements, green lanes on both sides, a bike path on the right side of the road, pedestrian crossings and bus stops.

In addition, a second roundabout will be built in the last 250 metres.

The announcement also said that plans for the project include a new rainwater drainage network, new sewage, irrigation and water supply networks, new retaining walls and the undergrounding of electricity and telecommunication services.

“This project will give the local economy a boost and will connect Paralimni with the Protaras tourist area,” Paralimni mayor Theodoros Pyrillis said.

“Kapparis avenue ends at the dividing line,” he said. “We hope for the day when Kennedy and Kapparis avenues will be connected again, which is exactly why we are building a roundabout closer to that end – so that Kapparis avenue becomes an extension of the road leading to Famagusta and is renamed Kennedy avenue”.