€2.3m project to reinforce Nicosia stormwater culvert begins

Nicosia, Cyprus. A €2.3 million project to repair, maintain and reinforce a stormwater culvert beneath Digeni Akrita Avenue is set to begin, the Nicosia district government organisation (EOA) announced on Friday. The works will address deterioration in the approximately 50-year-old structure carrying the Kotsirkas river.

Project scope

The contract covers the rectangular culvert between the junctions of Kallipoleos and Larnakos avenues. The structure has suffered corrosion and deterioration over the decades and will be strengthened using modern reinforced concrete methods.

EOA chairman Constantinos Yiorkadjis said the organisation identified the culvert’s condition after assuming responsibility for stormwater management. He said the project was prioritised partly because of concerns about the safety of vehicles travelling on Digeni Akrita Avenue above the culvert.

Funding and timetable

The €2,259,499 plus VAT contract was awarded to C. Roushas Trading and Development Ltd and is expected to be completed within 28 weeks.

Two-thirds of the cost will be covered by the state, while the EOA will fund the remainder through stormwater fees paid by property owners.

Further interventions

Yiorkadjis said the organisation collects about €2 million annually through the fees and intends to use the funds for interventions at key problem areas across Nicosia district.

“Our goal is to carry out interventions at crucial problematic points every year, so that the situation improves and the likelihood of flooding is reduced,” he said.

Yiorkadjis acknowledged delays, shortcomings and failures in addressing stormwater infrastructure in the past, but said the organisation would focus on resolving existing problems. He said works in the Archangelos area were expected to follow next year.