Larnaca-Dhekelia road opens after 26 years of planning

Larnaca, Cyprus. The new Larnaca-Dhekelia road has opened to traffic after about 26 years of planning, with authorities describing the €14.8 million project as a major upgrade for accessibility, tourism and road safety in the area.

The main road was fully opened on July 24, while the remaining service roads are expected to be completed by the end of October.

Project details

The third phase of the project includes a 3.25-kilometre, four-lane main road and 4.5 kilometres of service roads.

District public works engineer Lazaros Lazarou said the 3.3-kilometre main road ends at the roundabout leading to Pyla. The service roads were added after changes to the original contract.

Construction timeline

Construction began on September 30, 2022, and was initially scheduled for completion in March 2025.

Following a contract extension, the project was completed on July 16. Lazarou said the project had faced significant delays, but described them as justified and said there were no contractual problems with the contractor.

Investment and safety

Lazarou said the project was particularly important for Larnaca, adding that it could encourage new investment and improve road safety.

He also said the inclusion of modern cycle lanes reflected the increasing role of cycling in European cities.

Larnaca commerce chamber (Keve) president Nakis Antoniou welcomed the opening, saying that the road had finally been handed over for public use after many years.