A safety hazard has been identified on Argyroupoleos Avenue in Strovolos, where a newly opened road runs up to 2.5 metres above the backyards of adjacent homes with no protective barrier along its full length.
Phileleftheros visited the site and confirmed the hazard after a local resident brought it to the paper’s attention. A vehicle losing control on the road could plunge into the backyards below.
At least ten homes are affected — five duplex units on the left side of the road heading from Lakatamia towards GSP, according to a resident who spoke to Phileleftheros.
One resident told the paper: “We are now afraid to sit on our back verandas. We used to sit there, but we could see cars passing level with our heads.”
The Department of Public Works is aware of the issue and is already working on a solution, Phileleftheros established. Executing engineer Giorgos Xipsitis confirmed the problem was identified during construction. “We identified it in the early stages and a solution is already being put in place,” he said. A metal protective structure is to be installed, and Xipsitis said the cost would be minor relative to the total project spend.
Xipsitis also addressed the absence of a noise barrier. He explained that none was included in the original design because Argyroupoleos Avenue is not a motorway, but said a recommendation would be made to carry out an acoustic study to determine whether noise pollution levels require action.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades and Deputy Director of Public Works Stelios Zervos are both aware of the matter.
Argyroupoleos Avenue opened on June 4 as part of a broader road improvement project covering Hippocrates, Argyroupoleos and part of Tseriou Avenue in Strovolos. The four-lane road connects Tseriou Avenue, via a new roundabout, to the GSP roundabout and the Nicosia–Limassol motorway. The project, carried out by the IACOVOU-CYFIELD (A) J.V. consortium, had a total contracted value of €25,787,000 excluding VAT.
