Bidding for Nicosia bypass begins

The government has issued a public highway tender for the first phase of the long-awaited Nicosia bypass, which is expected to significantly reduce traffic jams in the capital.

According to state media, phase one (Phase A) is expected to begin in the first half of 2020, with an estimate cost around €62 million and construction time of about three years.

Phase A will stretch about 4.5 miles (7.5 kilometres) connecting the industrial zone in Dali, east of Nicosia, with the industrial park on Tseriou Avenue in Lakatamia, west of the capital.

The project will also include about 10 access road exits, three unbalanced roundabouts, and one ground level road exchange, while there will be no traffic lights or stops signs.

Partial funding for the bypass has been obtained from the EU, according to a Tweet posted on Tuesday by Transport Minister Vasiliki Anastasiadou.

The minister said the Public Works Department managed to secure €43.8 million through the Connecting Europe Facility programme.

Cyprus is one of nine states to be connected through the Orient/East Med Corridor (OEM), connecting countries from north to south. Funding is made available to Cyprus, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece and Cyprus, while Cohesion funds do not apply to Germany and Austria.

The government says the bypass will contribute significantly to reducing traffic congestion in and around Nicosia but also cutting down travel times between points on the outskirts of the capital.