Anastasiades’ government has proceeded with the implementation of all important and long-awaited major road construction projects, including the Astromeritis – Evrychou motorway, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said on Monday.

These projects that are currently underway exceed €1.8 billion, the minister said during his visit to the construction site for the new highway.

“As a government we can boast that all major, important and long-awaited road projects that residents and local communities have been asking and demanding for decades, are on track for implementation,” Karousos said.

One of these projects is the 11km-long motorway between Astromeritis and Evrychou villages at a total cost of €88.6 million. Works for the new four-lane road have started on schedule, and will include the longest bridge in Cyprus, at 750 metres.

Other projects concern the Polis-Paphos road, Limassol-Saiita, the Nicosia perimeter motorway and upgrading of the Larnaca-Dekelia and Derynia-Sotera road networks. Also underway are the Dierona and Arakapa connection with Yermasoyia and projects that will connect mountainous areas with the urban centres.

These projects are necessary to fight urbanisation and help the residents who live in the countryside and mountainous areas, the minister said.