On November 19, the renovated Ermou Street in Larnaca opens to the public, with the renovation works completed approximately one month ahead of schedule.
In a meeting he had with journalists on Friday on the progress and development of the renovation projects of the city's historic shopping center, the city's Mayor, Andreas Vyras, said that "the section of Ermou and Gladstonos streets would have been completed on December 15, however, after consultation with the contractor, we have managed to open the road about a month before the initial plan. Specifically, on Wednesday, November 19, Ermou Street, where the works were completed, will open, while it will be appropriately decorated for Christmas."
The Mayor noted this, "we are sure that it will help the shopping center because Christmas is coming, we want the road to open as soon as possible and everyone can see the difference between before and after, since all the necessary work has been done."
At the same time, he said that "the project was very difficult and the decision we made was difficult, but carrying out this project, namely the upgrade of the historic shopping center of Larnaca, was the only way. The inconvenience was and is certainly great for both the shopkeepers and the public, but without this project, there would not be the perspective that will open up from now on for the city's shopping center," he said.
As Andreas Vyras said, "we are doing everything possible to complete the project within the schedule. Such a project has many problems and many contingencies that no one can foresee in advance, but it has also been shown in practice that when we manage to solve the contingencies and the Services, we have, in cooperation with the contractor, good results."
He also noted that "in the section of Zenonos Kitieos and Kosmas Lysiotis streets, when the road was opened, it was found that the EAC facilities were from 1960, that is, in a very bad condition and by a miracle we still had electricity and there was no serious accident. In other words, apart from the work that is visible, the infrastructure that is being built, namely electricity, telecommunications, sewage and water supply, which was necessary for the area since at some point there would have been very serious problems from the facilities of 1960."
We want, continued the Mayor of Larnaca, "to apologize and ask for the patience of the people so that we can all endure together the time remaining until the completion of the projects, but at the same time we must support the shopkeepers. We have an obligation to stand by the shopkeepers who are the soul of the center, they are the people who invested their lives and families and keep the heart of the city alive and we all must visit the shopping center, walk, enjoy the project and support these people who gave their lives for Larnaca, he said."
Asked whether any compensation will be given to the shopkeepers of the shopping center, the Mayor replied that "we have said and what the Legislation allows us is that what the Municipality charges as taxes will not be imposed for the years that the project is being implemented."
Regarding the parking spaces in the shopping center, Mr. Vyras said that "the logic of the project is that parking spaces on the street are being eliminated in order to make wider sidewalks, so that people, families and the disabled can pass through. Many private and municipal parking spaces have been opened in the shopping center, where people can park their cars and enjoy the space," he added.
When asked about the shade structures that will be placed on the streets of the shopping center, the Mayor replied that "these were ordered and in about three months they will be placed in the areas where the project is being completed. The urban equipment will also be placed, which has also been ordered, while LED lighting has been installed, which is the most modern available in this area," he concluded.
Source: KYPE
