Description/Objective

Nicosia South Orbital Motorway constitutes a part of the predicted national road network of Cyprus and an integral part of the Core Network of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), illustrating the European dimension of the Project. 

The general Project deals with a four-lane highway, total length of 32 km, which will connect the highways which end up in Nicosia (Nicosia-Limassol Highway, Nicosia-Troοdos Highway, Nicosia-Palaiochori Highway) and it will act as a bypass road for the Nicosia Urban Complex, serving dozens of Municipalities and Communities in Nicosia district.

The Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021-2027” will co-finance the Phase B3 of the Project, which concerns a new four-lane highway of 2.15 km length, with a 2.60 m wide separating elevated island between the fronts of the STEP type safety parapets, construction of a roundabout at the intersection with the Lakatamia-Deutera road (E902), a bridge over the Pedieos river and two overpasses. It also includes connecting roads with two traffic lanes of 1 km length, at the intersection with the Nicosia-Palaichori road (E903) at the entrance of the Anthoupoli settlements, and restoration of the affected local network roads.

Progress/Implementation Stage

The project contract was signed on 03/07/2025 , and its completion period is set at 36 months, with a start date of 28/07/2025 and an expected completion date of 28/07/2028.

Expected Benefits/Outcomes

• Improving Cyprus connectivity with the European mainland, through the implementation of crucial missing parts of TEN-T and the construction of a basic road network that will cover the national territory and will connect it with the entrance borders of Cyprus (Airports and Ports)
• Accessibility improvement of Nicosia Urban Complex and dozens of regional Municipals and Communities
• Reduction of transportation time and increase of the average speed
• Improving road safety levels for all road users
• Support multimodality and combined trafficking of public and private transportation means for the passengers (cars and buses)
• Support freight transport with a fast and safe handling of goods, with an interconnection of the main locations of activities (industrial and agricultural areas) and a parallel bypass of the residential areas
• Possibility of increasing the sustainable economic activity and growth of the supported regions
• Environmental benefits due to the reduction of the permeable movements through the residential areas (reduction of air pollution and noise)
• Sustainable management of rainwater
• Development of digitalization of transport with the installation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).