Repairs to the ageing stormwater culvert beneath Digenis Akritas Avenue cannot be postponed because they are directly linked to public safety, according to Nicosia District Local Government Organisation (EOA) chairman Constantinos Yiorkadjis.
Speaking to Politis radio, Yiorkadjis said the infrastructure, constructed about 50 years ago, has suffered significant deterioration due to the heavy traffic volumes it carries daily.
Subsidence risk cited
“Unfortunately, because of the extremely high volume of traffic on Digenis Akritas Avenue, significant deterioration of the infrastructure has been observed,” Yiorkadjis said.
“This means there is a risk of road subsidence if we do not proceed immediately with its maintenance and repair.”
He described the intervention as essential and said the works were being undertaken at the right time to avoid more serious problems in the future.
First phase due by December
Yiorkadjis noted that approximately half of the culvert had already been repaired by the Public Works Department in previous years.
The next phase will focus on the section between Protagorou Street and Alkamenous Street, with completion expected in early December.
Additional sections will be repaired in subsequent phases.
Cost estimated at €2 million
The project is expected to cost around €2 million.
According to Yiorkadjis, two-thirds of the funding will come from the state, while the remaining third will be covered by the Nicosia EOA.
He acknowledged that the works would inevitably cause traffic disruptions but argued that the inconvenience is preferable to facing a potentially serious infrastructure failure.
Stormwater fees fund flood-prevention projects
Yiorkadjis said the EOA collects approximately €2 million to €2.5 million annually through a stormwater management fee included in sewerage bills.
The revenue is used exclusively for stormwater and flood-mitigation projects.
He also stressed that flooding issues accumulated over decades cannot be resolved within a few years, although the creation of a unified local authority body has improved coordination and planning.
No flood risk from the works
Responding to concerns about heavy rainfall during construction, Yiorkadjis said work would be suspended if severe weather conditions were forecast.
He insisted the project would not affect water flow through the culvert.
“The flow of water will not be affected by the project. There is no reason for concern about flooding in the area as a result of the works,” he said.
‘There was no luxury of delay’
Addressing criticism that Nicosia has become a construction site and that the project could have waited, Yiorkadjis was unequivocal.
“The answer is no,” he said.
“We are talking about a project directly related to safety. As we have already explained, there is a real risk of subsidence if the necessary interventions are not carried out. Therefore, there was no luxury of postponement.”
