NICOSIA’S Solomou Square is set to undergo some major changes in the coming twelve months, in an effort to create a modern and functional bus station in the heart of the capital.
“Plans are beginning to become actions. After a long process of planning, offers, approvals, and other things, we are beginning the construction of the project concerning the Transfer Station in Solomou Square. A project essential to the historic center of Nicosia and the improvement of public transport,” Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou said yesterday.
Mavrou and a representative from Cybarco Ltd, the construction company undertaking the project, signed the contracts yesterday.
“The plan takes into account the importance of Solomou Square as a main entrance to the historic centre of the city and as a hub for the arrival and departure of people who want to work or visit the historic and commercial centre with public transport,” she said.
The new-look Solomou Square will include a covered central island with electronically displayed travel information, new sidewalks and pedestrian crossings as well as separate bus lanes, new bus stops, and an information office.
Construction will be carried out in two phases, lasting about a year in total. In the shorter first phase, the area opposite Holiday Inn will be developed to include new bus lanes and six bus stops, without making any changes to the existing bridge area. During this initial phase the “Tripoli” parking area will remain operational apart from a short period which will be used to reformat it.
In the second phase, work will be done on the west side of the bridge to form four new traffic lanes, whilst the three existing lanes on the east side will remain operational. Once this stage is completed, construction work will move to the east side of the bridge, where a new area for the buses will be developed, including six more bus stops.
According to Mavrou, not only will the scheme upgrade Solomou Square it will also improve traffic flows by organising traffic lanes into bus, car and pedestrian lanes.
“The projects are an essential and very visible first step to modernise and enhance public transport in Nicosia and will give a glimpse into the new public transport in Cyprus which will meet modern expectations,” said Mavrou.
The reconstruction of the square is expected to cost €4.85 million and will be co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund of the EU, the Cyprus Government and the Nicosia Municipality.
“With this project, as with many others that are currently in progress, Nicosia is being upgraded. One by one the projects we promised as the City Council are creating a beautiful, modern and humane city,” Mavrou concluded.
