Newsroom
After years of construction and delays, drivers heading toward Cyprus’ mountain regions will finally get a smoother ride starting Thursday afternoon, as the long-awaited Astromeritis-Evrychou highway officially opens to traffic.
In a statement, the Public Works Department said the new four-lane motorway, part of the fourth phase of the Nicosia-Troodos highway project, has been completed within the revised timetable and within its €74.4 million budget, excluding VAT.
The 11.3-kilometer stretch begins south of Astromeritis and ends near Evrychou, creating a faster and safer connection between the capital and the island’s mountainous communities.
The project was carried out by the Cybarco–Pharmakas joint venture under the supervision of the Public Works Department.
Construction on the road began several years ago as part of the government’s broader effort to improve access to the Troodos region, though the project faced timeline revisions along the way. Officials had repeatedly described the motorway as a major infrastructure investment aimed at modernizing travel to rural Cyprus and supporting communities outside the main urban centers.
The new highway includes several large-scale engineering works, including a grade-separated junction in the Koutrafas area, a terminal roundabout, and a 750-meter valley bridge.
Authorities say the motorway is expected to significantly improve road safety while cutting travel times to the mountainous regions of Troodos, Solea Valley, Marathasa, and Pitsilia.
Officials also hope the project will boost accessibility and economic development in rural communities that have long complained about difficult and time-consuming travel routes.
Drivers using the new motorway are being urged to pay close attention to the updated road signs and speed limits during the first days of operation.
