The Public Works Department on Tuesday insisted that the bridge at Kalavasos, which the fire department on Monday said was too low for its trucks to pass under in the case of an emergency, was in fact alright and would stay that way.

“There is nothing wrong with the height of the bridge at Kalavasos on the Nicosia-Limassol motorway,” Limassol Public Works district engineer Panikos Panayiotou said.

He told the Cyprus News Agency that the height there was 3.7m and since the motorway was built and remained that way to date.

“What is being done is an upgrading of the existing bridge, which existed since the Nicosia-Limassol motorway was built. Works have been completed and this afternoon (Tuesday) the four lanes of the motorway will be open to traffic,” he added.

Panayiotou said there was a road under the bridge “with a 3.7m clearance”, which will remain as is.

“A temporary road was built for the needs of the project with a 4.9m clearance,” Panayiotou said.

Referring to the fire department’s statements, Panayiotou said “it wants this road to remain open so that its trucks can pass in the case of an emergency.”

“This temporary road is in the riverbed and to remain that way an approval must be obtained from the Water Development Department,” he said.

As far as the public works are concerned, Panayiotou said “we have nothing to do with this”.

“As soon as an approval is obtained from the Water Development Department, they will tell us that the road will remain open after the works are completed and the contractor leaves the site,” Panayiotou explained.

Otherwise, he said, the road “cannot continue to exist as there should not be any constructions in the riverbed.”

On Monday, fire department spokesman Andreas Kettis told the Cyprus Mail that officers had visited the site more than once, accompanied by MPs and local authorities.

“We went to the site. Some fire engines cannot pass under the bridge,” Kettis said.

“Once this was determined, we contacted the authorities for the situation to be rectified, for something to be done that will be satisfactory.”

The bridge, close to the future energy centre, is said to be approximately 20cm lower than it should be and MPs from the House transport committee are discussing ways to solve the problem.