Extensive flooding in several of Limassol’s main road arteries, such as the Spyros Kyprianou and Agia Fylaxi avenues, Anexartisias street and the area in the vicinity of Limassol Castle, was a phenomenon that the city had to cope with yet again this winter even in this winter. This resulted not just from (admittedly) heavy rain but also from the lack of vitally important anti-flood infrastructure projects.
Limassol authorities are categorical that in four years’ time, this problem will have been done away with. Talking to «Entrpreneurial Limassol», Limassol – Amathus Sewerage Board (SALA) Director Iacovos Papaiacovou, the Board has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of the Interior, which is expected to be tabled for approval to the Council of Ministers, to resolve the problem of rainwater flooding in the center of Limassol. With the implementation of the €4 million project, rainwater which is now ending up in the historical center of Limassol will end up in underground drainage pipes at Thessaloniki and Agia Fylaxi Avenues and then channeled to the Garyllis river through Navarinou Street.
Moreover, and in the wake of the release of a state contribution of €16 million, in addition to the approval of relevant credit facilities, SALA has taken care of implementing anti-flood projects amounting to a total of €28,5 million, which should been carried out already but were postponed in the wake of the 2013 financial crisis. To that end, four tender documents are currently under preparation and bids will be invited in the summer. According to Mr. Papaiacovou, construction work is expected to begin around the end of the current year, with completion scheduled for 2023.
These projects are expected the Havouza, Agia Lylaxi Ekali areas, along with the extension the Eavagoras Lanitis Avenue, and the Anagostopoulos, Geroulanos, and Voulgaris streets in Polemidia. Works are also scheduled for Panicos Harakis street in Mesa Yitonia municipality, Sfalaggiotissa and Charalambos Evagorou streets in Ayios Athanasios municipality, and Patra street in the Paniotis area of Yermasogia municipality. The project will also involve the construction of two rainwater reservoirs in the Agia Fylaxi and Agios Athanasios areas.
