Traffic cameras by early 2021, transport minister says

The installation of traffic cameras across the Cyprus road network is scheduled to begin in early 2021, transport minister Yiannis Karousos said Thursday.

Speaking on state broadcaster CyBC, Karousos said “we are at the stage of evaluating the offer which will be brought before the tender committee for confirmation. If there are no appeals, the installation of cameras will begin in early 2021.”

He added that “Even if appeals are made, if the ministries have done their job properly, then the process will simply be delayed for one to two months."

Funding secured for second phase of Nicosia peripheral network

The transport minister also noted that the ministry has successfully secured EU funding for the second phase of its largest ongoing project, the construction of a peripheral road network which began some six months ago and which will offer the capital a much-needed traffic decongestion.

Smart traffic system

A pending matter, Karousos said, is the launching of a tender for the installation of a smart system at 160 traffic lights across Nicosia and Limassol, which will control traffic flows.

“It will be as if there are 160 traffic police officers stationed at traffic lights, and will provide appropriate priority and time,” Karousos said.

Bus and bicycle lanes

In the coming days, Karousos added, the transport ministry will also be launching a tender for the updating of the Nicosia mobility plan across two axes: the creation of bus lanes and the improvement of public transport timetables.

“There are definitely things that must be done immediately and others that will be implemented long-term,” Karousos said, stressing that “whatever happens, if we don’t change mentality as regard public transport, we won’t achieve much.”

Regarding bike lanes, Karousos said “they have been significantly improved in recent years and there is a program for the construction of bike lanes.”

The transport minister added that on Wednesday he chaired a council aiming to promote bicycle use, and together with cyclists, local authorities, and the Nicosia bicycle mayor, discussed a strategy to boost bike use and connect bike lanes.

“There are some actions that need to be done with local authorities, such as information campaigns, and incentives that we want to give to the public for the purchase or even the maintenance of bicycles".