Newsroom
Larnaca is gearing up for a busy and expensive year ahead.
Mayor Andreas Vyras says six major development projects worth roughly €50 million are expected to get off the ground in 2026, bringing visible changes to Larnaca and the municipal districts of Livadia and Voroklini. From bus lanes and bike paths to university buildings and long-awaited neighborhood upgrades, the message is clear: the city is finally moving from plans to action.
The biggest project on the list is one residents are likely to notice first. Around €20 million will go toward rolling out bus lanes and cycling paths across the city as part of Larnaca’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. The project aims to upgrade more than 15 main roads, creating 30 kilometers of bike lanes and 11 kilometers of bus lanes. That means redesigned junctions, fewer car lanes on some main avenues, new sidewalks, fresh asphalt, and...yes...more trees, as green corridors are added to soften the concrete-heavy cityscape.
The idea, according to the mayor, is simple: make it easier and safer to get around without relying solely on cars while also improving daily life in the city.
Another major project set to begin this year is the construction of the School of Marine Sciences and Sustainable Development for the Cyprus University of Technology, with a budget of €13 million. The new facilities will be built near the Mackenzie area and will include lecture halls, labs, offices, meeting rooms, and high-tech infrastructure to support research and distance learning. For Larnaca, it’s a boost not just to education, but also to its profile as a hub for research tied to the sea and sustainability.
Smaller, but no less important, projects are also in the pipeline. In Livadia, work is expected to start on the renovation of Archbishop Makarios III Avenue, a €3.6 million urban upgrade that includes new paving, underground utilities, tree planting, improved drainage systems and better lighting.
In Voroklini, the final phase of restoring the old neighborhood is expected to begin in 2026, at a cost of €2.4 million. Roads in the historic core will be redesigned as shared spaces, making them safer and more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities, especially where narrow streets don’t allow separate paths.
Back in Larnaca, the long-awaited renovation of the Agios Ioannis parish area is also set to move forward. With a budget of €2.3 million, the project includes wider sidewalks, upgraded roads, new greenery, and the creation of a central square, aimed at improving everyday mobility while highlighting the area’s historical and social character.
Finally, a project that has been discussed for years may finally see progress: the housing of Larnaca Municipality services at the site of the old Larnaca Hospital. With an estimated cost of €9 million, the plan includes restoring and expanding existing buildings, demolishing outdated structures, and creating new public spaces, including a square, green areas, and parking.
Taken together, the projects signal a major shift for Larnaca, one focused less on promises and more on concrete, cranes, and construction crews. For residents, it means disruption in the short term, but a city that’s easier to move around, greener, and better equipped for the future.
