Phase two of renovations begins at Solomou Square

DRIVERS passing through Solomou Square were thrown off course yesterday as renovation works entered phase two effectively closing the west side of the square.

Solomou Square has been undergoing work for the last few months in an effort to create a well-designed but also modern bus station in the centre of the capital.

Municipal architect  Maria Tymviou said the first phase had taken three months, with the phase two expected to take around nine months.

In total the completion of the project will take one year, she said. “Phase one took place opposite the Holiday Inn hotel, where we took part of the parking to create a lane for bus movement and one for buses to stop,” said Tymviou.

The second phase includes the renovation of the west side and then the east side of the square. As they work on the west side of the square, various arrows point traffic in the direction of the east side so they can enter the old town.

Many of the shopkeepers in the area already feel affected. “It’s only been one day but how will the work get done if we’re not affected,” said Savvas Kapsis, part owner of Omiros Supermarket. “Before we could park here and so could others, now we have to park further down and pay them on top of it,” said his father Omiros Kapsis.

Others seem more understanding of the project, such as Christakis Nicolaou, owner of Christakis souvlakia – a fixture at Solomou Square for decades – who has had the front of his restaurant blocked by metal sheets used to section off the project. “We’ll be slightly affected but the square will become more beautiful,” said Nicolaou.

The renovation of Solomou Square is one of 17 development projects in the capital relating to urban infrastructure, some of the others being redesign and improvement of road lighting within the walls, redesign and construction of Eleftheria Square and maintenance of Paphos Gate.

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