This coming October, the evaluation of data collected from traffic surveys conducted in the wider area of the intersection of Agia Fylaxeos Avenue and Makariou III Avenue in central Limassol is expected to be completed. Based on this data, the involved authorities will decide on the final configuration of the specific junction.
As is well known, the President of the Republic, during his visit to Limassol last May, stated that the planning for Agia Fylaxeos Avenue is progressing, “which will breathe new life into a route tested daily” and reminded that last April, a contract was signed for the collection of traffic data in the project’s road network during peak hours. He added that the data would be analyzed and evaluated so that planning could be completed promptly.
According to information obtained by “Entrepreneurial Limassol” from the relevant government departments, the traffic measurements were carried out last month not only at the “Café Paris” lights—as they are commonly known—but also at other key intersections in the area, such as at Pentadromos, the “Ariel” lights, the NAAFI lights, and further south, at “Tziamouda.” The evaluation of the measurements has been assigned to the Public Works Department, and it is estimated that it will take approximately three to four months to complete.
Based on the results of the measurements, all alternative solutions regarding the configuration of the Agia Fylaxeos–Makariou intersection will be considered. These include the creation of a roundabout, the installation of “smart” traffic lights, and the implementation of one-way traffic on sections of Thessalonikis and Agia Fylaxeos Streets, near the “Café Paris” junction. Also on the table is the possibility of one-way streets south of the intersection. Regarding the design of the entire third phase of the Agia Fylaxeos project, it will commence once the involved stakeholders reach a conclusion about the final layout of the key intersection. A tender for the preparation of the construction plans is then expected to be announced.
The third phase includes the section of Agia Fylaxeos that meets Makariou Avenue, which is planned to be redesigned from the “Ariel” lights to the NAAFI lights, including the intersection of the two avenues and any additional interventions decided to the south of it. The first phase of Agia Fylaxeos has already been reconstructed, north of Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue, while the second phase—from Spyrou Kyprianou to Makariou—remains pending, due to issues with existing residential properties along the road.
Former Limassol Mayor, Mr. Nikos Nikolaides, had supported the idea that the connection of Agia Fylaxeos with Makariou should come first. However, the issue “stalled” after objections were raised by environmental and other bodies (such as the School Board Committee) to the roundabout plan presented by the Public Works Department. The current Mayor of Limassol, Mr. Yiannis Armeftis, who is promoting the redesign and construction of Agia Fylaxeos Street and its connection with Makariou and Thessalonikis Avenues, supports abandoning the roundabout plan in favor of implementing one-way traffic systems alongside the installation of “smart” traffic lights.
It should be noted, finally, that the issue of this particular intersection has been under discussion for over 20 years, with various proposals being evaluated from time to time, but without a definitive solution being implemented to date.
