With the aim of ensuring the safety of road users and reducing fatal traffic accidents, two traffic-light-controlled intersections on Ellados Avenue in Aradippou will go into operation on Tuesday, June 30, Aradippou Mayor Christodoulos Partou told CNA.

He added that “work to install traffic lights at three locations along Ellados Avenue, where several fatal accidents have occurred in the past, took approximately four months. After obtaining the necessary approvals from the Department of Public Works and other agencies, we issued a call for bids, and the successful bidder completed the construction of the traffic-light-controlled intersections in record time.”

“In late May,” he continued, “all three sets of traffic lights were delivered to the Municipality of Aradippou; however, all the necessary technical tests and adjustments still had to be carried out. The traffic-light-controlled intersection of Ellados Avenue with Ibykou Street and Sergiou & Vakhou Street became operational on Wednesday, June 24, while on Tuesday, the 30th of the month, the other two traffic-light-controlled intersections of Ellados Avenue with Georgiou Theotoka Street and Iakovou Patatsou Street will become operational.”

Responding to a related question, Mr. Partou said that “the final technical tests and adjustments were completed in recent days, and tomorrow, Monday, June 29, and Tuesday, June 30, traffic lanes on Ellados Avenue will be closed. Specifically, traffic will be suspended from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in order to complete the commissioning of the new traffic lights.”

The mayor urged drivers “to be especially careful, to drive at low speeds, to comply with the temporary traffic signs, and, above all, to be patient so that the work can be completed and the traffic lights can finally be put into operation without any problems.”

In response to another question, Mr. Partou stated that “the initiative to install the three traffic-light-controlled intersections on Ellados Avenue came from the Municipality of Aradippou. Pedestrian crossings were also installed at these three specific locations, and the costs, which were also covered by the Municipality, amounted to approximately 280 thousand euros.”

He also explained that “the installation of these traffic-light-controlled intersections should have taken place years ago, since a great many drivers, in addition to trucks, used and continue to use Ellados Avenue and its side streets. “On this particular avenue, we’ve had quite a few accidents in the past—up until recently—some of which were fatal.”

When asked about the current status of the traffic lights, Mr. Partou replied that “Things are going very well, and drivers have come to terms with the fact that traffic-light-controlled crosswalks have been installed—which, we want to make clear, do not have cameras. The main reason for this initiative by the Municipality is the safety of our residents and, more generally, of all road users,” he said.

According to the Mayor of Aradippou, “because the financial cost is high, sidewalks will be constructed on one side of Ellados Avenue this year, and on the other side next year. In addition, trees have been planted along the entire length of the avenue and will also be planted on the sidewalks, while street lighting—which did not exist until now—will also be installed.”

He also noted that “the Aradippou Municipal Council has set goals for public safety, and wherever there are roads in need of repairs or upgrades, the necessary actions and work will be carried out, in cooperation with all relevant agencies.” “Among these projects is the construction of sidewalks on streets where they do not currently exist, in order to make it easier for pedestrians to get around,” he concluded.