05.08.2024
On Monday morning, contracts were signed in Limassol for the renovation of Heroes’ Square and the adjacent streets. The construction is scheduled to start at the end of October and will be completed in 18 months.
Limassol Mayor Yannis Armeftis stated that the project aims to make the square more accessible to pedestrians by reducing the number of vehicles and improving pedestrian infrastructure. Additionally, an underground exhibition hall will be created beneath the memorial on the square.
The project, with a budget of €3.9 million excluding VAT, is part of the “Cohesion Policy” (THALEIA) program for 2021-2027, co-financed by the EU. The contract was signed by the Mayor of Limassol and Christos Christou, representing the construction company An. Christou Constructions.
According to the plan, the northern and southern roads around the square, Andrea Drousioti and Pavlos Melas Streets, will be used for vehicular traffic until the evening, after which they will be converted into pedestrian zones. The western and eastern streets, Vasilios Makedonos and Eleni Paleologinas, will be fully pedestrianized, with designated areas for outdoor cafes and restaurants.
Mayor Armeftis noted that this project is part of a broader plan to revitalize the area east of Independence Street, and the municipality is already working on projects for other parts of the city, extending up to the public park.
He also mentioned plans to turn Independence Street into a pedestrian zone as part of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. The mayor emphasized that these proposals include the possible temporary use of the street for one-way traffic in a northward direction.
Additionally, the mayor stressed the importance of reducing the number of cars in the city center and supporting public transport development, adding that the municipality is in discussions with shop owners on this issue.
Moreover, the municipality proposed using the area of the old Limassol hospital as a parking facility to serve the needs of the city and TEPAK. Relevant letters have already been sent to the Ministry of Health, which owns the site, and the mayor expressed hope that with some modifications, this area could be utilized for the city’s and the university’s development.
