The Agios Athanasios junction in Limassol has become the most congested point on Cyprus’s entire motorway network, with traffic counters recording 96,000 vehicles in a single day—a volume that pushes the four-lane bypass beyond its design limits.
Average speeds at the junction plummet to 71 km/h during the 7am-7pm period, down from 101 km/h at Parekklisia just kilometres away. The 30% speed reduction captures the bottleneck in numbers: elevated traffic from 6am until 8pm, four lanes struggling to absorb demand, and a motorway serving too many functions at once.
The A1 bypass handles between 65,000 and 91,000 vehicles daily across its Limassol section, according to Public Works Department data. Permanent traffic counters show the pressure building eastward: Parekklisia averages 54,000 vehicles daily, while Agios Athanasios hits 91,000 on typical days and 96,000 at peak.
Heavy vehicles account for 7-10% of traffic, concentrated heavily between Agia Fylaxis junction and the port and hospital junctions.
The congestion reflects the bypass’s multiple roles. The same stretch carries east-west through traffic, drivers avoiding urban congestion, port-bound lorries, visitors to the casino, mall and marina, and travellers heading to Paphos airport.
The junction tries to be arterial road, urban connector and intercity motorway simultaneously.
The Public Works Department said the northern bypass sections between April 1st Avenue and Yiannis Kranidioti Avenue, and between Yiannis Kranidioti and the hospital perpendicular road, are expected to go to tender in the second half of 2026.
Studies account for demographic forecasts to ensure the design meets future traffic requirements, the department said.
Park and ride infrastructure is advancing. Agreements are in place for the Tsireio Stadium through the GSO sports club and part of the Alphamega Stadium car park. The Spyros Kyprianou Stadium has been upgraded with suitable facilities.
Construction is underway at Kato Polemidia and Agios Tychonas, though full operation requires corresponding public transport services.
The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan has moved from planning to implementation, with tenders issued for priority projects worth approximately €18 million. These include bus lanes on the coastal road and south of the Troodos roundabout, cycling infrastructure, and park and ride stations at key points across the city.
Three bus stations are planned for Themistokleous Street at the Municipal Market, Lelas Karagianni-Aiolou Street behind Archbishop Leontiou Avenue, and Moniatis community. Completion is expected by 2029.
Measures planned for the next five to ten years include the northern bypass, expanded bus and cycling lanes, the Agios Athanasios perpendicular road, park and ride stations, smart traffic lights with central control, variable message signs, smart lights at bypass roundabouts, and the Limassol-Saittas motorway Phase A2.
The department is examining an additional lane in each direction on the Nicosia-Limassol motorway between Parekklisia and Agios Athanasios.
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