Limassol’s central Anexartisias street will become a one-way street from the end of 2025, the city’s council decided on Thursday.

Preparations for the road to become a one-way street are expected to take between 12 and 18 months. As part of a “pilot stage” the road will operate as a one-way street for six months in one direction, and then for six months in the other.

After the end of the pilot phase, a decision will be made on the direction in which the road will operate before a final decision will be made regarding eventual full pedestrianisation of the street.

This will be done “when the city is deemed ready” and depends mainly on public transport alternatives, the council said.

Some councillors were upset with the decision, with Diko councillor Kristis Demetriou, who owns a shop on the street, citing Nicosia’s Makariou street as an example of a “poorly implemented pedestrian street”.

Pedestrianisation of Anexartisias will “destroy shopkeepers and the street’s commercial activity”, he added.

Akel councillor Michalis Sokratous was wary that the decision “binds the next council”, with municipal elections set to take place on June 9.

“In two months, most of us will not be here,” he said, adding that details should be left for the newly elected council in June to make decisions.

Mayor Nicos Nicolaides disagreed with Sokratous, saying “we initiated the procedures, and the issue must be closed. Besides, we have other important issues which cannot wait.”

He added that “we are a municipal council until June.”