Call for bids to revamp heart of Nicosia high street

THE municipality of Nicosia announced the opening of bids for the first phase of the redevelopment of the Makarios – Stassikratous – Evagorou avenues triangle on Friday.

The date for submission of bids is June 23, and the project budget is estimated at €9m plus VAT.

“It was decided to implement the project in phases,” the municipality stated, “the first phase includes Stassikratous, part of Mnasiadou, Princess de Tyras and Theofanous Theodotos.”

“The main idea is to upgrade the area in order to improve the commercial activities,” municipality spokesman Makis Nicolaides said, “we aim to attract new investments and shops.”

“The project involves a total redevelopment of the open space between the facades of buildings consisting of the public road and public and private walkways in order to reinforce sustainable mobility, functional and the aesthetic improvement of the area,” the statement said.

Works include the construction of new roads and pavements facilitating the accessibility of pedestrians and disabled. The underground utilities such as electricity cables will be upgraded and small shaded squares will be created by planting trees and flowers.

“The idea is to reduce the temperature, if only a little bit,” Nicolaides explained.

The streets will most likely be on one level with the pavements, and benches and bollards are also part of the plan.

This first phase is part of the Nicosia Integrated Mobility Master Plan (IMMP) which will include the construction of bus and bicycle lanes and the introduction of minibuses for the old town and is expected to be completed by 2020.

It is co-financed by the EU, the government and the Nicosia municipality.

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