Larnaca Facelift On The Way

BRAND new walkways, parking spaces and three town squares are part of the planned projects for the transformation of the centre of Larnaca, which is expected to be completed by summer

A fountain will be built at Ermou Square as well as a specially designed roof-covered space to host various events, Larnaca Mayor Andreas Moiseos told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.

He said the municipality intended to build two new roads in order to relieve the congestion in the centre of the town and change the direction of the existing ones.

“The new traffic arrangements mainly concern Ermou and Ayios Lazaros squares….the completion of the renovation works of the Ermou, Medieval Castle and Ayios Lazaros squares in conjunction with the new traffic arrangements are expected to bring a breath of fresh air to the market,” he said.

“People just pass with their cars but no one actually gets down for shopping. They avoid it because of the chaotic situation such as congestion and lack of parking, these new measures will end this.”

Moiseos said three separate studies had been conducted to carry out these projects and they all more or less come to the same conclusion regards what has to change and how it will change.

Based on the main findings of the three studies, 70 per cent of the traffic is just passing through to get from the east to the west of the city and vice versa. Another important finding of the study is that the existing parking is not sufficient so two new multi-levelled parking places will be built in cooperation with private investors, he said.

According to Moiseos, all work will be completed by the end of July, beginning of August. The transformation will include paving, benches, new lighting and special columns that will seal off cars from the paved walk paths.

“The part that will be paved at Zenonos Avenue will only be open to traffic at certain times and mostly for commercial cars. It will be closed for cars on weekends”, the Larnaca mayor said.

“We have distributed a special pamphlet informing the residents over the new traffic arrangements, and we will also hold meetings where they can express their views and their questions”, Moiseos said.