Series of development works underway in Paphos district

Works worth over €108 million including the Polis Chrysochous-Paphos road are currently underway in Paphos, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said on Friday.

The minister visited Paphos to discuss with local authorities the progress of a number of projects amounting to an additional €11 million that are still in the tender stage.

One of them is the construction of wave breakers in Chlorakas, and Karousos said that if no objections are raised by November 30, contracts will be signed and works will begin in early January.

As for the new Polis-Paphos highway, which is the largest project of its kind in the state budget, he said that contracts have been signed and works can begin after the public works department evaluates the contractor’s report, which is still pending. The road has been a long-standing demand by many residents and businesses in the area but widely opposed by environmentalist groups.

Other projects include archaeological spaces under Paphos municipality’s jurisdiction, the construction of a new dialysis clinic, and various roadworks to improve important networks, such as the road connecting Paphos with Paphos airport.

Karousos explained that like many of these projects, the road to the airport is subject to an environmental study before it can be greenlit, adding that a proposal was made for an alternate route that completely avoids the protected Natura 2000 network.

The minister added that plans to alleviate traffic issues in Potima have been approved, with all relevant studies expected to be completed in the next two years, after which tenders will be invited for the upgrading of the coastal front.

Addressing complaints about a lack of projects in western Paphos, Karousos said that his ministry has signed off on a number of large projects, like the Polis-Paphos road, which people have been waiting for for decades.

Saying he prefers to be realistic about schedules and deadlines, Karousos said his background in local government means he is very careful about such things.

He added that the regulatory plans have now been completed for several road networks, while problems have been resolved in areas like Peyia.