**Paphos-Polis Highway Tenders Approaching, Minister Confirms**
The Cypriot government is making strides towards the long-awaited Paphos-Polis Chrysochous highway project, with plans to initiate the tender process for a significant segment of the roadway by the end of this year or early next year. Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades announced these developments during a meeting with local authorities in Paphos on Thursday.
The project in question pertains to the second phase of the Paphos-Polis motorway, which aims to create a four-lane segment connecting the town of Polis to the village of Stroumbi. This phase has been a topic of discussion for nearly two decades, with various plans and proposals circulating over the years. Although the official call for tenders has not yet been published, Minister Vafeades estimated the total cost of this phase to be around €108 million.
Currently, the project is in the land expropriations phase, and environmental studies are also underway. Minister Vafeades acknowledged the frustrations of local residents who have grown weary of the prolonged timeline and repeated promises regarding the highway's development. “After two decades of waiting, people have justifiably grown disappointed and tired of repeated promises,” he stated. However, he emphasized the government’s commitment to moving forward with the project, asserting, “We’re determined to press ahead.”
In addition to the second phase, Minister Vafeades addressed the ongoing construction of a third lane on the existing road that connects Paphos to Polis. He indicated that the first segment of this project is expected to be completed soon, potentially within days. However, the second segment has faced delays of approximately three months, attributed to issues with the contractor, who is currently incurring penalties.
Polis Mayor Yiotis Papachristofi expressed the community's “fatigue” regarding the long-standing issues surrounding the Paphos-Polis connection, which has been pending for 20 years. Despite this, he noted that the current government appears to be committed to expediting the process, which has been a source of hope for local residents.
The first phase of the Paphos-Polis highway project, which involves a 15-kilometer section linking the villages of Ayia Marinouda and Stroumbi, is also progressing. Currently, bids for this phase are being assessed by a board. Reports indicate that there are two bids under consideration: one from Cyfield Construction Ltd for €124 million and another from Araco Construction Cy Ltd for €128 million.
As the government aims to revitalize the Paphos-Polis highway project, local authorities and residents remain cautiously optimistic about the future of this critical infrastructure development. The commitment to advance the tender process and address existing delays reflects a renewed effort to enhance connectivity in the region, which has been a longstanding concern for the community.