The former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides lashed out at the Christodoulides government accusing them of creating a financial and safety scandal over the controversial Paphos-Polis Chrysochous motorway.

“Instead of admitting its mistakes, the government is trying to cover them up with a new financial scandal,” said Michaelides.

In a written statement, Michaelides said the taxpayers “will be charged millions of euros in the black hole of the dead-end communication policies of Nikos Christodoulides’ government”.

Michaelides explained that the governments of Nikos Christodoulides and his predecessor Nicos Anastasiades had designed a two-lane road – one lane either way – but with the characteristics of a much bigger four-lane dual carriageway, which was costly, dangerous and detrimental to the environment.

“In a lawful state, the government would responsibly answer to the parliament about what happened. But this does not happen in Cyprus,” he said.

Replying to the public works department about the specifications of the road, Michaelides said the contracts provided for a part it from Ayia Marinouda till Stroumbi, about 15.5km long, to be built with two lanes with the prospect of another two lanes being added later, making it a dual carriageway.

The projected speed was 120km/h and the maximum slant would be 6 per cent, despite the geometric design standards for inter-urban and rural roads in Cyprus being a maximum of 5 per cent.

Michaelides said the road would be dangerous because the high-demand parameters were calculated into the equation for a dual carriageway and not a normal road with one lane either way.

This, he added, increased the cost of the road and made it less safe, allowing high speeds in a road that could not accommodate them.

“It is scientifically clear that drivers tend to adjust their speed in relation to the geometry and conditions of the road. If the permitted speed is much lower than the study speed, it may be ignored by many drivers, creating different flow speeds and increasing the risk of collision. This will apply in the road promoted by the government – the allowed speed is 85km/h but the study speed is 120km/h,” Michaelides explained.

The former auditor-general said he understood Christodoulides’ dilemma, as a member of the Anastasiades government that promoted such a road, as well as the awkwardness he was facing since the Audit Office and its former head were being vindicated.

“Had they been heard, today the road would be completed, safe, totally environmentally friendly, a two-lane road that would perfectly meet the commuting needs of the specific route,” he said.