Nicosia’s Pedieos Linear Park gets €30m overhaul with new footbridges, smart crossings

Local environmentNicosiaparksTop News Nicosia’s Pedieos Linear Park gets €30m overhaul with new footbridges, smart crossings Nicosia's Pedieos Linear Park Gets €30m Overhaul With New Footbridges, Smart Crossings Relevant News Nicosia’s Pedieos Linear Park gets €30m overhaul with new footbridges, smart crossings 29 June 2026 On this day: Kurdish guerrilla Abdullah Ocalan was sentenced by a Turkish court to hang in 1999 29 June 2026 IMF warns Cyprus of pension spending surge as reform talks advance 29 June 2026 Vassos Vassiliou 29 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The 11.8-kilometre Pedieos Linear Park walkway, spanning Nicosia, Strovolos and Lakatamia, is set for a €30 million overhaul that will see workers excavate to a depth of around 1.5 metres to replace the existing surface with more durable materials, according to a study by IACO Environmental & Water Consultants Ltd. The current surface material — a fine crushed aggregate known as pouri — breaks down easily and requires frequent maintenance. Its removal and replacement is one of the main cost drivers behind the project’s €30 million price tag, though not the only one, according to the study. New surface and lane layout The excavation will allow for the installation of irrigation and water supply networks, electrical infrastructure and smart city systems beneath the new surface. The replacement surface will be a water-permeable material suitable for both walking and cycling and more resistant than the existing one. The redesigned walkway will feature two separate lanes of two metres each — one for pedestrians and one for cyclists. In wider sections, the study proposes lanes of up to 2.40 metres. New lighting columns will be installed between the two lanes, with shrubs or small trees planted alongside them. Fourteen footbridges The plan proposes 14 footbridges along the route. Seven fall within the Nicosia and Strovolos municipal boundaries: The first will be built inside the Buffer Zone in Nicosia; the second on Nikos Georgiou Street in Agioi Omologites, upgrading an existing crossing; the third at the junction of Olympiados and General Ioannis Tsangaridis streets in Agioi Omologites; the fourth on Kolokotroni Street near the Presidential Palace; the fifth on Strovolos Avenue near the Agrotis bookshop; the sixth at the junction of Ilias Venezis and Vosporou streets in Strovolos; and the seventh on Eleonon Street in Strovolos. The remaining seven fall within Lakatamia: the eighth on Anagenniseos Street near the PAEK grounds; the ninth near the Fire Station; the tenth near the grounds of the TOI Lakatamia sports club; the eleventh on Ioannis Kapodistrias Street, upgrading an existing crossing; the twelfth near the Lakatamia Health Centre; the thirteenth on Sporadon Street; and the fourteenth near Anthoupolis Secondary School. Smart crossings and disability access Where a footbridge is not possible, the study proposes signalised pedestrian crossings raised to walkway level, surfaced with cobblestones or matching material to give a sense of continuity. The study also proposes smart signalised crossings equipped with motion sensors, LED lighting, surveillance cameras and audio alerts to ensure safe passage, with particular emphasis on accessibility for people with disabilities. Disability access will be provided along the full length of the park. Playgrounds and refreshment kiosks The plan includes nature playgrounds featuring equipment made from natural materials such as wood and rope, with climbing structures designed to give users the feeling of being among trees. Ground surfaces in these areas will remain natural or be covered with sand, with no hard surfaces. Small detachable kiosks and refreshment areas made from natural materials such as wood are also proposed. Kiosks will have a footprint of nine square metres each, while refreshment areas will range from 30 to 50 square metres, offering drinks and ready-made snacks. The study specifies that the facilities will not include restaurants or large cafés. The structures will be lightweight, requiring no permanent foundations. Vehicle access and fencing New fencing will be installed along the riverbank where needed to prevent motorised vehicles from entering the riverbed. Controlled access points will allow entry for municipal maintenance crews and emergency vehicles. The study proposes retractable metal bollards at entry points to permit ambulance access. Low walls of concrete or natural stone in gabion baskets, 40 centimetres high, are proposed along inhabited and developed sections and can also serve as seating. Metal mesh fencing is proposed along uninhabited and undeveloped stretches. Wooden fencing will be installed at points where the walkway runs close to the riverbank and there is a significant drop. Timeline and scope Construction is expected to begin in July 2027 and be completed by February 2029. Phase B, covering the remaining areas, is expected to begin in December 2028 and be completed by June 2030. The study divided the project area into 15 sub-areas, running from the start of the linear park near the new Archaeological Museum to the Anthoupolis area. The existing park is also set to be extended by around five kilometres, with a new pedestrian and cycling path along the northern and western bank of the river where space is available, and connections to Agios Dimitrios Park in Strovolos and Michalakis Sofocleous Park in Lakatamia. Read more: Study recommends cutting Nicosia’s Pedieos river “invasive” acacias Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News On this day: Kurdish guerrilla Abdullah Ocalan was sentenced by a Turkish court to hang in 1999 IMF warns Cyprus of pension spending surge as reform talks advance Drunk driver crashes into five vehicles on Limassol coastal road (videos) Greek lawyer with international standing frontrunner for Mafia State criminal probe Cool relief on the way as Cyprus sizzles at 38°C Boys found dead were trapped in car for hours before windows smashed to free them Pafilia: Nearly five decades of shaping Paphos and building a legacy Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.