Public Works nears deal to install smart traffic lights in Nicosia, Limassol

Local LimassolNicosiatechnologyTop Newstraffictransport Public Works nears deal to install smart traffic lights in Nicosia, Limassol Public Works Nears Deal To Install Smart Traffic Lights In Nicosia, Limassol Relevant News Christodoulides, Mitsotakis to coordinate ahead of Guterres visit 25 July 2026 Public Works nears deal to install smart traffic lights in Nicosia, Limassol 25 July 2026 Cyprus’s LIVIA takes first place in Europe with smart farming platform 25 July 2026 Vassos Vassiliou 25 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The Public Works Department is closer than ever to awarding a tender to install “smart traffic lights” that are expected to ease congestion on key roads in Nicosia and Limassol, where daily traffic problems affect tens of thousands of people. A final decision on the contract is tied to an upcoming ruling by the Administrative Court on which company will carry out the project. The tender was issued in January 2024, and work was originally expected to start by the end of that year. However, once the contract award decision was made, an appeal was filed with the Review Authority, triggering objection proceedings that have continued until now. Even once the contract is signed, some time will still be needed before work begins, given the time of year. Still, the key step is opening the way for the project to go ahead. Traffic congestion on several Cyprus roads has become increasingly difficult to manage. On the Agios Athanasiou bypass in Limassol, for example, daily traffic volumes rose by almost 10,000 vehicles within a year. Smart or self-adjusting traffic lights are expected to be most effective within city centres, where congestion is worse, but the bypass figures illustrate the wider rise in traffic. The project will initially cover 125 signal-controlled junctions, 75 in Nicosia and 50 in Limassol. Alexis Avgousti, Executive Engineer and Transport Planner in the Traffic Studies and Road Safety Department, said the new lights are expected to bring several benefits, including: A 10-25% reduction in travel time A 15-30% reduction in delays A 10-30% reduction in stop-start driving A 28% reduction in public transport travel time An 8-10% reduction in fuel consumption A 10-15% reduction in emissions Reduced impact on air quality The project forms part of Cyprus’s wider Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) strategy and is linked to the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Avgousti said the new Regional Urban Traffic Control system will be applied to 125 signal-controlled junctions on main roads in the Nicosia and Limassol districts, with plans to extend it to other junctions where necessary. The system will allow priority access for public transport and emergency vehicles, and will be capable of connecting up to 500 signal-controlled junctions countrywide for remote monitoring. He said the aim of the project is better traffic management, and it is expected to increase the road network’s capacity while improving road safety. The system will collect traffic data from sensors installed at key points across the urban road network and process it in real time, adjusting signal timings according to actual traffic conditions. This is expected to address a common frustration for drivers stuck at red lights with no vehicles crossing from the green-lit direction, and is also expected to reduce queues at several traffic junctions. Smart technology tackling traffic congestion Unlike the current system, in which traffic lights operate on fixed green, amber and red timings, the new system will introduce the following changes: Traffic sensors will continuously collect data on vehicle numbers and flow All traffic lights will be linked to a central control centre The system will analyse data in real time Green and red light durations will be adjusted automatically according to actual traffic conditions These functions will be monitored through new central monitoring and control software, for which sensors will be installed and signal equipment upgraded. The sensors to be installed will mainly be used to: Measure vehicle volume Estimate traffic speed and density Optimise traffic light timings The project’s budget, based on initial estimates, stood at 7.1 million euros plus VAT. It is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the EU’s Cohesion Policy, through the “THALIA 2021-2027” programme. The implementation period is 24 months, with five years of maintenance to follow. As part of efforts to improve monitoring of the road network and build a fuller picture on which to base traffic-easing measures, the Public Works Department has previously installed 150 fixed cameras capable of counting traffic through video analytics. The department has operated permanent traffic counters on the road network since the 1980s, and since 2014 has been upgrading and expanding its coverage network, mainly in Nicosia and on the intercity road network. Through these systems, Public Works records and monitors traffic on the road network, including monthly changes in Nicosia’s urban network, the intercity network, and traffic to and from Nicosia and between towns. 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