Public works defends halting Paphos-Polis road contract
The public works department says scrapping the contract for the Paphos-Polis Chrysochous highway could not be avoided, and denies dragging its feet on tenders.
The public works department has defended its handling of the Paphos-Polis Chrysochous road, saying the contract's termination and the tenders board's rejection of bids were both unavoidable, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The statement came in response to criticism from Disy vice-president Yiannis Karousos.
According to the department, Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki instructed officials to draw up options for finishing the project, and proposals have been in preparation since September 16, 2026. Work is now focused on a four-lane design, with the ministry aiming to pick an approach that prevents the setbacks seen recently and in earlier years.
Officials also pushed back at suggestions that tender evaluation had stalled, and noted that the road has been on hold since the 1990s.
What it means for residents
The road link between Paphos and Polis has been promised for decades, so the practical question for people living along the route is not who is to blame but how long they will keep waiting for a safer, faster connection.
- Travel times stay as they are. Until a new contractor is chosen and work restarts, drivers on this corridor will keep using the existing roads.
- Watch the four-lane plan. The shift to a wider design could change land needs and the timeline, so residents near the alignment should follow consultations.
- Budget pressure ahead. A fresh tender and redesign may push costs up, which matters for public spending on the island.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
