Roadworks ‘hit a snag’,
ROADWORKS on the GirneLefkoşa highway which have caused long tailbacks and mounting frustration for drivers for more than a month have hit a snag, it emerged yesterday.
The Public Works and Transportation Ministry revealed late yesterday afternoon that work to “soften” sharp bends at Ciklos, roughly midway through the 4.8km under-repair section, had been halted last Thursday after the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) learned of a “probable burial site” in the area and launched an investigatory dig.
“Therefore, the work between the St Hilarion junction and Girne underpass . . . is not continuing as planned,” said a ministry statement.
It added: “As the [ministry], we see it as our duty to act in a responsible manner concerning a humanitarian issue . . . so appropriate measures have been taken to make the CMP’s work easier.
“[That] work is expected to be completed by next week.”
The section between the St Hilarion junction and the start of the Girne bypass has been reduced to a one-lane contraflow system since work — expected to take three months — began on February 23.
Asphalting began on Monday, but drivers still voiced discontent this week at the pace of the work and claimed a May reopening looked unlikely.
Minister Tolga Atakan said on Thursday contractors carrying out the job were bringing in extra equipment and would work at night too, to speed up completion, but commentators in the press and on social media expressed scepticism.
Meanwhile complaints were voiced over alreadyslow-moving traffic being further delayed by breakdowns in the single lane sections, along with fears that the restricted lanes would make access impossible for emergency vehicles.
In addition to remedial work on the Ciklos bends, Mr Atakan said crash barriers were being renewed, worn kerbstones replaced and the road surface would be re-asphalted.