Cyprus orders 1.7km of substandard asphalt removed from Paphos-Polis road

Local Paphosroad safetyroadsTop News Cyprus orders 1.7km of substandard asphalt removed from Paphos-Polis road Dromos Pafou Polis Relevant News Cyprus orders 1.7km of substandard asphalt removed from Paphos-Polis road 17 September 2026 Larnaka 2030: Open invitation to the webinar series “Setting out Together: A Journey into Community Arts” 17 September 2026 Two remanded over plot to kill UK twins in Cyprus, six deported 17 September 2026 Ioanna Kyriakou 17 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus’s Public Works Department says a 1.7-kilometre, 10-metre-wide stretch of newly laid asphalt on the Paphos-Polis road, in the Tsada area, fails to meet required standards and must be torn up. The department and the contractor are trading blame over responsibility and how to fix it. The problem came to light during a session of the parliamentary Transport Committee on Thursday, which examined the progress of improvement works on the road, compliance with contract terms, delays and extensions, financial claims and the project’s completion timeline. MPs and local community leaders warned during the session that the uneven road surface could lead to fatal collisions, and raised concerns about further problems on the network during rainy periods. Public Works Department representative Costas Constantinou told the committee that the substandard section is completely outside specifications and must be removed. He accused the contractor of refusing to carry out a required inspection after completing construction of the road. The contractor was responsible for measuring surface irregularities using a three-metre rolling beam, Constantinou said. It “systematically refused, citing various excuses, including that this wasn’t required under its contract,” he added. He said the department obtained a beam from another contractor and carried out the measurements itself, which found that the 1.7-kilometre, 10-metre-wide section needed to be removed. “We’re not hiding behind our finger,” he said. Constantinou said a letter was sent to the contractor on September 2, giving it 15 days to respond on when it intends to rebuild the section. “We’ll wait until the end of the week. If for any reason the company refuses to do it, there are provisions in the contract to carry out the repair another way. We’ve already spoken to variation committees, to contractors who hold contracts, and we’re prepared. The Public Works Department will hand over a road that is correct and safe,” he said. “Put simply, the contractor decided to dispute the terms of its own contract. The existing road was in better condition than what we have now,” he added. According to the Public Works representative, 54,400 euros has been deducted from the contractor so far as a penalty for delays, with the project currently 70 per cent complete. Police representative Giorgos Millis said Cyprus Police acts as an observer on the project, clarifying that any road safety issue identified is recorded and passed on for resolution. MPs raised fears of potential fatal accidents due to the state of the road surface and called on police to increase patrols at the site and install warning signs to get drivers to slow down. How the company responds Araco Construction Cy Limited representative Nikos Hadjipapa said problems with the project’s design study were present from the outset. He said the project’s design consultant was a firm from Greece that never visited Cyprus to carry out inspections. He explained that the project engineer had instructed a change to the thickness of the embankments, which he said restricted the working space, made the work harder to carry out and reduced output. Asked whether the company intends to fix the road, he said: “The contractor was obliged to build the road according to the existing terrain. As a result, the asphalt followed the existing terrain. To fix the road now requires a new longitudinal survey.” On the design consultant, the Public Works representative clarified that its contract covered only the design study, not supervision, noting that the department has its own engineers for that role. The committee session nonetheless exposed a new area of dispute over a project already running behind schedule: it was originally due to take 12 months and be completed by January 2026. Public Works insists the problematic section must be removed and rebuilt, while the contractor attributes the issue to instructions given during the works. The next key step is expected to be the contractor’s response to the department’s letter, which will determine what happens next with the road’s repair. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Larnaka 2030: Open invitation to the webinar series “Setting out Together: A Journey into Community Arts” Two remanded over plot to kill UK twins in Cyprus, six deported Building a year-round future for Cyprus tourism Power cuts hit parts of Nicosia and Larnaca, EAC crews on site Turkish defence ministry warns US arms decision for Cyprus threatens “sensitive balances” Transport Ministry reports vandalism, misbehaviour on school buses, appeals to parents West Nile virus cases in Cyprus rise to 14, as respiratory infections stay low Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.