Limassol defines 30km zone in city centre

The Limassol Municipal Council has proceeded with the definition of a 30km zone in the city centre and the Local Authority is preparing to call for tenders for road markings, in the western part of this zone, for which the necessary procedures are more advanced.

According to the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the measure concerns the wider area provided by the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan and starts east from the perpendicular to the beach road, Olympion Street (on the west side of the Public Garden), extends north to Gladstonos and reaches west to the church of Agios Antoniou.

The implementation of the measure is moving at two speeds, since the western section from Anexartisias commercial street to Agios Antonios, has been approved by the Traffic Studies Agency and the announcement of a tender for road markings is imminent. The eastern part of the 30 kilometer zone from Anexartisias street to the Public Garden is currently before the Traffic Studies Agency for approval.

The 30km zone includes the commercial street of Anexartisias, while Gladstonos and Navarinou streets are excluded. Part of the "30" zone, is the section of Yildiz Street between Bayazit, Eleftheria, Navarino and Mesquite roundabout. It does not include Spyrou Araouzou, Agias Theklis and Kioprouluzade. It should be noted that a 20 km zone has previously been defined in a smaller area within the parish of Jami Jedid, where the Municipality of Limassol has completed redevelopment projects and similar markings have already been introduced.

The Limassol Municipal Council recently unanimously decided to single-lane Anexartisias Street with a change in the direction in which vehicles will move on a pilot basis every six months. According to the Municipality, it was decided to proceed immediately with the planning and construction work provided for by the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for Anexartisias Street. The plans provide for the construction work for the final solution, which is the pedestrianisation of the street with simultaneous use by electric buses.

Before the final solution is implemented, there will be a transitional period of use of Anexartisias by private vehicles in one-way status, which is also foreseen by the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SVAK). The correct one-way direction will be chosen after the six-month pilot application of both directions, as reported by the Municipality. The period of time required for the design and construction works on Anexartisias Street is 12 to 18 months.

The labour works will include, in addition to those on the road surface, the reinforcement of the greenery on the street, shadows on the pedestrian path and the widening of the sidewalks and will be carried out in a way that will affect the operation of the street to the least possible extent, both for the citizens and for the shopkeepers. The aim of the actions of the Municipal Council, according to a relevant announcement, is to deal with the traffic problem, to facilitate the movement of pedestrians and public vehicles, but also to protect and strengthen the commercial traffic of this important street of Limassol.