Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos assured students at a primary school in Limassol that the installation of sound barriers to permanently solve the problem of noise pollution from vehicles on the adjacent highway will begin in October.
Karousos was responding to a letter written to him by the students from the primary school in the Havouza neighbourhood, informing him of the problems they faced.
Welcoming Karousos to the school, the students outlined the problems and presented solutions, proposing installing a combination of sound barriers and planting trees.
The minister said this was the first time he had received a letter from students, and congratulated them for “setting an example of how active citizens should be”. He also urged them to continue to send their suggestions to the relevant authorities and assured them in a few months their problems will be solved, adding that procedures have already been initiated for the construction of sound barriers on parts of the bypass.
The department of public works launched a tender in March 2022 for the construction and installation of the sound barriers, at a cost of €1.6 million. Work is expected to start on October 3 and be completed by December 2, 2023.
The project includes, among other things, the replacement of approximately 70 metres of existing sound barriers in front of the primary school with new 4m-high barriers, as well as the installation of approximately 370m of 2m-high sound barriers at the Polemidia flyover, which will help protect the school from noise pollution.
In addition, the same contract provides for the installation of 160m of sound barriers in front of Ekali Primary School and 160m in front of Columbia Primary School, as well as 280m of sound barriers in front of Frederick University, which will be constructed at a height of 4m.
Co-financing of €5mn has been secured from the EU for the installation of sound barriers for the period 2021-2027 on a nationwide basis.
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