The time has come for major decisions on two major road projects in Limassol which, although included in the state budget for 2020, are still pending in terms of what exactly they are going to entail. The first decision to be made is whether the traffic lights of ‘’Café Paris’’ junction will eventually be replaced by a roundabout; the second how can the new link between the coastal and Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, south of St. Anthony's Church, can be achieved in view of it being obstructed by two business premises in the area.
The management of traffic flows in the ‘’Cafe Paris’’ is an issue that has been on the agenda of Limassol authorities, the Department of Public Works and Town Planning Department for many years. Plans to build a roundabout to connect Makarios, Agia Phylaxis and Thessaloniki Avenues, were not well received by the authorities of Lanition school in that the project, even with a reduced diameter would have to cut through a chunk of the Lanition stadium. At the same time there have been voices in support of retaining the present traffic lights system in the area, with some adjustments where necessary.
In the context of the Limassol Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, it was decided to re-evaluate the studies, the results of which will determine how the project is going to proceed. Mayor Nicos Nicolaides said any final decision will be binding for all parties. The projects also envisages the resurfacing of Makarios avenue between the Polemidia and Ariel traffic lights. Regarding the coastal road-Franklin Roosevelt Avenue project, the Limassol Municipality is in touch with the Ministry of Interior regarding the evacuation and removal of the two business premises that stand in the way. It was exactly this obstruction that necessitated the project to be pursued in two phases, the first of which was completed last year. The Mayor said it was up to the Interior Minister to decide how to handle the matter, in terms of compensating those that need to be evacuated or otherwise. This issue must be settled in full by the end of the current year, so that actual works on the project can get under way in 2020, as per the commitment of the President of the Republic.
