Both bids rejected for Paphos–Polis Chrysochous road project

Paphos, Cyprus. The tenders board rejected both offers for the Paphos–Polis Chrysochous road, Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki confirmed on Friday. She told the House finance committee that the board had reached its decision unanimously, an outcome she had anticipated.

Bids exceeded ministry estimate

Cyfield Construction’s offer was the lower of the two at €124.85 million, excluding VAT. Araco Construction and its joint-venture partner Geostroy submitted a bid of €128.94 million.

Related: Paphos-Polis Chrysochous Road Tenders Expected in First Half of 2027

RelatedPaphos-Polis Chrysochous Road Tenders Expected in First Half of 2027

Against the ministry’s €90.2 million estimate, those offers were €34.65 million and €38.74 million higher respectively, a difference of approximately 40 per cent.

Tsolaki said one submission lacked essential documentation, while the other substantially surpassed the estimated cost. When the offers became public in April, the ministry had attributed the difference to wider rises in building costs and material prices over recent years.

First-phase design

The tender sought design and construction work for the highway’s first phase, covering approximately 15.5 kilometres between Ayia Marinouda and Stroumbi.

The plans envisaged an initial two-lane road, with scope to widen it to four lanes later. They also provided for five bridges, two tunnels, four overpasses and twelve underpasses.

Alternative approaches under review

Tsolaki reaffirmed the government’s intention to deliver the road. She said the project originated in the 1970s and had become increasingly difficult to implement as time passed, prompting an examination of alternative ways to proceed.

She also said she had convened a meeting on the next steps, with a four-lane road among the options discussed.