Major repairs start on Nicosia culvert beneath Digenis Akritas Avenue
Work has begun on a half-century-old storm-water culvert under one of the capital’s busiest roads, with officials warning that sections could give way.
Crews in Nicosia started on Monday fixing a storm-water culvert that runs beneath Digenis Akritas Avenue, a road used by tens of thousands of vehicles daily, as reported by philenews. The structure, which channels the Vasilopotamos river, also called the Kotsirka, is about 50 years old and has suffered decades of damage to its concrete and steel reinforcement.
The job is set to run for 28 weeks across four stages and carry a price tag of roughly €2.3 million plus VAT, with the state covering two-thirds and the Nicosia District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) the remainder. The opening phase lasts until December 4.
Nicosia DLGO director Konstantinos Parmaklis said the danger would grow if heavy vehicles or lorries with heavy loads crossed the culvert, and he could not exclude the possibility of a section collapsing and a vehicle dropping into it.
What it means for residents
Drivers who use Digenis Akritas Avenue should brace for months of lane restrictions and slower journeys, since the repair work will inevitably cause congestion. The upside is that a crumbling piece of infrastructure under a heavily travelled road is finally being strengthened.
- Plan extra time for journeys along and around Digenis Akritas Avenue while the four phases are under way, and consider alternative routes at peak hours.
- Expect heavy-vehicle traffic to be a particular concern, as the DLGO says loaded lorries crossing the culvert pose the greatest risk.
- Watch for updates from the Nicosia DLGO on phase timings, since rain could slow progress on work carried out inside the culvert.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
