Driving in Cyprus

NICOSIA’S Limassol Avenue re-opened yesterday as sewage works ended two days ahead of schedule. The two lanes east of Limassol Avenue from the lights at Armenias Avenue to the lights at RIK Avenue were opened up at noon y, with the remainder of the lane later in the day.

Meanwhile maintenance on part of the highway from Paphos to Limassol will start on Monday until August 26.

Both lanes of the motorway, from Petra tou Romiou, to the exit for Pissouri will be temporarily closed to traffic from 9am to 5.30pm daily, from Monday to Thursday.

The two lanes, approximately 3km in length will have traffic diverted to the two southern lanes, which will be operating on a two-way traffic basis.

The Public Works Department apologises for the inconvenience the works will cause and invite the public to show the necessary understanding and compliance with the temporary road signs and police instructions.

Nicosia open, Paphos-Limassol highway closing for works – Cyprus Mail.

NICOSIA – The Nicosia-Larnaca highway will be partially closed between Monday and Friday due to cable connection works by a private company.
This is what an official announcement said on Thursday, adding that the partial closing – between 8am-5pm – will take place from Alambra’s flyover up to Koshi village.
Drivers are cautioned to be careful and reduce speed when approaching the flyover.

Cyprus Mail

WORKS on the main thoroughfare going in and out of the capital’s Limassol Avenue, will be completed tonight, two days ahead of schedule, announced the Public Works Department yesterday.

The department yesterday thanked the Nicosia Sewerage Board, its advisers, the contractors, traffic police and its own officials for “excellent spirit of cooperation” shown during the planning and execution of the project.

Road works finished ahead of time – Cyprus Mail.

Nicosia:  WORK HAS begun on installing the sewage system on the other side of the Limassol Avenue dual carriageway. Work on the lanes coming into the capital were completed ahead of schedule, allowing both lanes to be open for the holiday weekend on August 14 and 15. Now, work has begun on the outgoing lane, meaning cars coming in and out of the capital have to share one side of the dual carriage way (the incoming one). While the project is due to be completed on August 23, the authorities have suggested it may finish one day ahead of schedule.

Road works ahead of schedule – Cyprus Mail.

MOTORISTS whose cars sustain damages due to public road works can seek compensation, if the correct procedures are followed, police said yesterday.

According to the head of the police Traffic Department, Demetris Demetriou, the first step is to report the incident to the nearest police station.

“It is not necessary for a policeman to visit the scene; the plaintiffs just have to file a complaint so it is recorded and then they can proceed with whatever they decide to do,” said Demetriou.

Drivers should then apply to their municipality’s legal advisor, so legal proceedings can be launched for compensation.

“Only if these procedures are followed can members of the public be sure to receive compensation, if it is determined that their damage was sustained due to public works,” a Paphos Municipal official said.

The coastal town has received a large number of complaints recently due to the amount of road works going on for the past 12 months.

Projects to install storm drains, upgrade sewage works and other public works have turned the Paphos road network into a nightmare, exposing 300km of road to chaotic works while inviting 20 compensation claims a week from disgruntled motorists.

The digging up of roads even led to one death last year, while fears continue among local residents over public safety.

The district has taken on a massive project to lay storm drains, upgrade sewerage works and relay electricity and telephone lines in Paphos town and the surrounding villages. While residents await completion of the works in 2011, some have complained that even the finished roads pose a threat to motorists, remaining full of bumps and dangerous potholes.

Adding to their woes is the construction of part of the town’s ring road, causing more delays and misery for drivers, especially those aiming to get to Paphos general hospital.

Cyprus Mail

Nicosia:  SCORES of unprepared drivers faced chaos as on Nicosia’s back roads yesterday, as works began on the capital’s new sewage system, closing off the northbound lane of Limassol Avenue, one of Cyprus’ busiest roads.

The avenue was closed between the Athalassa-Limassol Avenue junction from 5am, up to the Aluminium Tower.

Traffic slowed to a crawl on the remaining half, while in the residential back roads where there were no diversion signs, frustrated drivers flagrantly ignored roadsigns, causing further disruption.

Demetris Demetriou, head of traffic police, said yesterday “The traffic was okay” and that while there were small delays, traffic police had the situation under control. He said that twenty police officers have been deployed to manage the traffic 24 hours a day, until the work is completed on the August 23.

Asked if he had recommendations for the drivers, he said “I would advise them to read the directions on road signs in order to know where to go, and to have in mind alternative routes if they are going in towards the centre, avoiding Limassol Avenue.”

By early evening outbound traffic was moving steadily and without problems.  However the real test for the traffic police will be tomorrow morning, when commuters bound for the centre will no doubt try to go via narrow back roads and busy roads such as Griva Dighenis.

Asked about anticipated delay times, Demetriou said “I hope to see how it will be on Monday.”

Alecos Michaelides, Head of the Public Works department (PWD) told RIK reporters that there were no special problems on the day, that the road works were on track and that traffic was flowing steadily.

He said that it was fortunate many road users were on holiday, which had reduced the congestion, and he was optimistic that the situation would improve once the traffic lights had been recalibrated to manage traffic on diversions. The road is used by over 45,000 cars daily the rest of the year.

One concerned Athalassa resident said yesterday: “It’s pretty clear that even a moderate increase around rush hour would be guaranteed to clog the residential streets around Athalassa Avenue.”

He added: “Most of the area west of Limassol Avenue is residential. I remember the last time Athalassa closed for works and traffic was diverted around the residential roads it was a nightmare – There was a huge volume clogging the streets.”

According to state television CyBC numerous drivers had complained that they were not informed about the road works

However Communications and Works Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis announced the works during a news conference last month.

“The Public Works Department set its primary goal to be executing the project at a time that would cause the least possible hassle to motorists and the public in general,” she said.

For the duration of the works, the dual carriageway will be reduced to two lanes, with traffic being diverted to the south-bound part of the avenue until Tuesday, August 17.

The traffic will then be transferred to the North-bound part of the carriageway, while works are carried out in the opposite direction. The avenue is expected to be fully back in use on August 23.

During this time, the PWD and Nicosia Municipality will completely replace the area’s old sewage system.

Michaelides said that the project had been reduced from seven to two weeks, with work expected to be carried out almost on a 24-hour basis.

During the last big works involving arterial routes such as Athalassa Avenue, shifts were doubled to ensure minimal disruption and finish off as soon as possible.

But Michaelides was keen to point out that this didn’t mean the costs would double also. He said the cost of the project, if it were to be carried out over a period of seven weeks – as initially proposed – would have cost €1 million, but denied the new cost would even reach €2 million.

“Our main plea is for those motorists who can avoid using Limassol Avenue during these dates to do so; otherwise, there will be members of the Traffic Police there at all times to direct drivers,” He said

via Major headache as junction shuts – Cyprus Mail.

Nicosia:  Nicosia may have started to empty, but those left behind will face in the coming days with yet another site, which opened today in the streets of the capital and is expected to cause unimaginable suffering to drivers.  Today began the work of the Sewerage Board of Nicosia (OSP) in Limassol Avenue and to this end have made several adjustments to channel the movement of cars.

Work pursuant to the notice of the Department of Public Works will be completed Monday, August 23 and will run in two phases.

The first phase will run from today until Tuesday, August 17 at 5 in the morning.  During this period, work will be performed in the west of Limassol Avenue, from ‘φώτα Καλησπέρα’ to the junction with the road Σαν Σουσί (after ‘φώτα Αρμενίας’), which will remain closed to traffic.

The police directed traffic in the East Avenue which is now a two-way traffic.

The second phase will run from 5 am on August 17 until 5:00 am on August 23.  The work will be moved to the east of the highway which will be closed.  Traffic will be channeled to the two western lanes that will run on two-way traffic.

The Public Works Department also informs the public that contributions to the Boulevard Limassol Avenue Athalassa RIK Avenue and the route of Armenia will be special traffic arrangements and there is constant monitoring by the Traffic Police.

According to the announcement by 5 am Sunday until 8 pm Tuesday, will be restricted access to and from the mall in lights Athalassas ‘Καλησπέρα.’

From 6 am on August 10 will be opened to one lane on the freeway.

Also, access from the highway to Limassol Armenian Street will be closed from 5 am today, until Monday morning.  During this period, will remain open only one lane of the highway Armenia Avenue in Limassol.

While announcing that from today until 17 August, during which it performed work in the west of Limassol Avenue, traffic lights will be operational in the presence of the police.  Then, from 17 August to 23 August will work out on the east side of the road, this contribution will be closed to traffic.

The Public Works Department urges drivers to use the Limassol highway daily, as from now until the completion of follow alternative routes.

“Also, drivers are directed to Nicosia by Avenue Athalassa encouraged to use either exit the roundabout in an industrial area of Strovolos Avenue Spyros Kyprianou, or exit onto Cross Avenue, before the lights Hello, the statement said.

“The Department of Public Works and Sewerage Board of Nicosia apologize for the inevitable inconvenience will be caused and invite the public, will be forced to use the avenue of Limassol during the work as shown patience and understanding and complying with the temporary road signs and instructions of the Police, “concludes the statement

via They began work on the sewer Avenue Limassol.

Η Αστυνομία ανακοινώνει, ότι από η ώρα 0500 του Σαββάτου (7/8/10), μέχρι η ώρα 0500 της Δευτέρας (23/8/10), θα διεξάγονται οδικά έργα σε τμήμα της Λεωφόρου Λεμεσού, στην είσοδο της Λευκωσίας και ως εκ τούτου τμήματα του πιο πάνω δρόμου θα είναι κλειστά για την τροχαία κίνηση.
Οι εργασίες θα υλοποιηθούν σε δύο φάσεις και αφορούν το τμήμα της Λεωφόρου Λεμεσού, από τη συμβολή των Φώτων Τροχαίας Λεμεσού – Αθαλάσσας (Φώτα Καλησπέρα), μέχρι τη συμβολή των Φώτων Τροχαίας Λεμεσού – Αγλαντζιάς (Φώτα ALUMINIOUΜ TOWER).
Για την ομαλή έλευση των οχημάτων και για αποφυγή κυκλοφοριακής συμφόρησης, το Τμήμα Τροχαίας της Αστυνομίας, έχει προβεί σε ειδικές κυκλοφοριακές ρυθμίσεις στις συμβολές της λεωφόρου Λεμεσού με την λεωφόρο Αθαλάσσας, τη λεωφόρο ΡΙΚ και την οδό Αρμενίας.
Συγκεκριμένα, θα εφαρμοστούν τα πιο κάτω μέτρα κυκλοφοριακής διαχείρισης:

Πρώτη φάση – Σάββατο 7/8/10 (05:00) μέχρι Τρίτη 17/8/10 (05:00)
Η πρώτη φάση αρχίζει το Σάββατο 7/8/10 και θα διαρκέσει μέχρι την Τρίτη 17/8/10. Οι εργασίες θα διεξάγονται στις δύο λωρίδες κυκλοφορίας με κατεύθυνση προς Λευκωσία, και θα γίνεται εκτροπή της τροχαίας κίνησης στις δύο αντίθετες λωρίδες κυκλοφορίας, με διαχωρισμό των λωρίδων. Λόγω των εργασιών επηρεάζεται σε μεγάλο βαθμό η τροχαία κίνηση στις συμβολές των Φώτων τροχαίας Λεμεσού – Αθαλάσσας (ΚΑΛΗΣΠΕΡΑ), Λεμεσού – ΡΙΚ, και Λεμεσού – Αρμενίας.
Σημειώνεται ότι η διασταύρωση των Φώτων Τροχαίας Λεμεσού – Αθαλάσσας (ΚΑΛΗΣΠΕΡΑ), θα είναι κλειστή για την τροχαία κίνηση για τα οχήματα που κατευθύνονται από την Λεωφόρο Αθαλάσσας προς την Λεωφόρο Λεμεσού ή τον Αυτοκινητόδρομο. Θα επιτρέπεται μόνο τροχαία κίνηση από τον Αυτοκινητόδρομο προς Λεωφόρο Λεμεσού και αντίστροφα (ευθεία πορεία μόνο). Αυτό θα ισχύει από την Κυριακή 8/8/10 μέχρι την Τρίτη 10/8/10, και από την Παρασκευή 13/8/10, μέχρι την Κυριακή 15/8/10. Την Τετάρτη και την Πέμπτη 11 και 12/8/10, η διασταύρωση θα είναι ανοιχτή για την τροχαία κίνηση με μειωμένες λωρίδες κυκλοφορίας.
Στα Φώτα Τροχαίας Λεμεσού – ΡΙΚ, και Λεμεσού – Αρμενίας, θα υπάρχει μόνο μία λωρίδα κυκλοφορίας με μονόδρομη κατεύθυνση για τα οχήματα που κατευθύνονται από Λεωφόρο ΡΙΚ προς Λεωφόρο Λεμεσού, και από οδό Αρμενίας προς Λεωφόρο Λεμεσού. Επιπρόσθετα τα οχήματα που κινούνται από το κέντρο της Λευκωσίας προς την Λεωφόρο Λεμεσού με κατεύθυνση τον Αυτοκινητόδρομο, θα μπορούν να στρίβουν αριστερά προς την Λεωφόρο ΡΙΚ. Για τα οχήματα που έρχονται από τον αυτοκινητόδρομο και βρίσκονται στη Λεωφόρο Λεμεσού με κατεύθυνση προς το κέντρο της πόλης, θα απαγορεύεται να στρίψουν δεξιά προς τη Λεωφόρο ΡΙΚ.
Για πρόσβαση προς και από το Αρχηγείο Αστυνομίας, θα χρησιμοποιούνται οι Λεωφ. Αγλαντζιάς, Ακαδημίας, Κυρηνείας και η οδός Αντιστράτηγου Ευάγγελου Φλωράκη.

Δεύτερη φάση – Τρίτη 17/8/10 (05:00) μέχρι Δευτέρα 23/8/10 (05:00)
Η δεύτερη φάση αρχίζει τη Τρίτη 17/8/10 και θα διαρκέσει μέχρι η ώρα 0500 της Δευτέρα 23/8/10, όπου θα παραδοθεί στη κυκλοφορία όλο το επηρεαζόμενο τμήμα της Λεωφόρου Λεμεσού. Οι εργασίες θα διεξάγονται στις δύο λωρίδες κυκλοφορίας με κατεύθυνση προς Λεμεσό, με εκτροπή της τροχαίας κίνησης στις δύο αντίθετες λωρίδες κυκλοφορίας, με διαχωρισμό των λωρίδων.
Λόγω των εργασιών επηρεάζεται η συμβολή των Φώτων τροχαίας Λεμεσού – ΡΙΚ. Συγκεκριμένα το τμήμα της Λεωφόρου ΡΙΚ, από τη συμβολή των Φώτων Τροχαίας Λεμεσού – ΡΙΚ, μέχρι τη συμβολή με τη οδό Αντιστράτηγου Ευάγγελου Φλωράκη θα είναι κλειστό για την τροχαία κίνηση.
Για πρόσβαση προς και από το Αρχηγείο Αστυνομίας, θα χρησιμοποιούνται οι Λεωφόροι Αγλαντζιάς, Ακαδημίας, Κυρήνειας και η οδός Αντιστράτηγου Ευάγγελου Φλωράκη.
Τα Φώτα Τροχαίας Λεμεσού – Αθαλάσσας (ΚΑΛΗΣΠΕΡΑ), και Λεμεσού – Αρμενίας, θα είναι ανοιχτές για την τροχαία κίνηση με μειωμένες λωρίδες κυκλοφορίας.

Οι οδηγοί που χρησιμοποιούν τη Λεωφόρο Λεμεσού καθημερινά, προτρέπονται όπως κατά την περίοδο (7/8/2010 – 23/8/2010) ακολουθήσουν άλλες εναλλακτικές διαδρομές. Επίσης οι οδηγοί που κατευθύνονται προς τη Λευκωσία μέσω της Λεωφόρου Αθαλάσσας, προτρέπονται να χρησιμοποιούν είτε τη Λεωφόρο Σπύρου Κυπριανού, είτε την έξοδο προς Λεωφόρο Σταυρού (πριν τα φώτα Καλησπέρα).

Γραφείο Τύπου

Σημ: χάρτες των επηρεαζόμενων δρόμων θα βρίσκονται αναρτημένοι στην ιστοσελίδα της Αστυνομίας.

NICOSIA – Everything is ready for the start of a flash “special operation” on August 8 that would give a complete facelift to the central Limassol Avenue in Nicosia. The plan is for the sewage network to be installed and the avenue to be back to normal within a fortnight.

After plans by the Public Works Department and contractors a decision was made to conduct road works in Limassol Avenue between August 8 and 22, without stopping traffic in the area.
The period chosen for the road works coincides with the August holidays when most people are away from the capital.

The traffic will then be transferred to the Nicosia-bound part of the carriageway, while works are carried out in the opposite direction. The avenue is expected to be fully back in use on August 23.

During this time, the Public Works Department in cooperation with Nicosia Municipality will replace the area’s old sewage system with the new one, as part of the aim to completely renew the capital’s sewage system.

The Head of the Public Works Department, Alecos Michaelides, explained that the project had been reduced from seven to two weeks, with work expected to be carried out almost on a 24-hour basis.

The last big works involving arterial routes such as Athalassa Avenue, shifts were doubled to ensure minimal disruption and finish off as soon as possible.

But Michaelides was keen to point out that this didn’t mean the costs would double also. He said the cost of the project, if it were to be carried out over a period of seven weeks – as initially proposed – would have cost €1 million, but denied the new cost would even reach €2 million.

“Our main plea is for those motorists who can avoid using Limassol Avenue during these dates to do so; otherwise, there will be members of the Traffic Police there at all times to direct drivers,” said Michaelides.