For decades, Aktaia Odos was a location most Limassol residents simply bypassed. Tucked behind the port, the area was defined by old factories, abandoned buildings, warehouses, and the Karnagio shipyard—carrying a rich history but lacking a real place in the daily life of the city. Today, Aktaia Odos stands on the verge of the largest transformation in its history.
The Limassol Municipality is planning a new seafront that will alter how citizens move through, walk along, and enjoy their city. The project extends beyond a single road, aims to create a new public space connecting the port with central Limassol, and will open the city up to the sea.
Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis outlined the municipal authority’s plans for the area, upcoming steps, accelerating development, active investments, and the relocation of the Karnagio shipyard.
Once a forgotten neighbourhood, the area has now caught the attention of major investors. Old industrial facilities are gaining new life as cultural and event spaces, while upcoming developments are set to reshape the coastal front. The primary challenge, however, remains ensuring that development leaves adequate space for the public.
“Our core objective is to connect the port with the city centre,” Armeftis said. “We want to create a space with the character of a linear park, prioritising pedestrians and cyclists. It will accommodate modern transit options, such as buses, and potentially a tramway in the future if proven viable. This is not just a road redevelopment. We are talking about a new public space that will link different parts of the city and improve residents’ quality of life.”
The Aktaia Odos project forms an integral part of the city’s broader strategy to promote sustainable urban mobility, Armeftis said.
“It will connect with the pedestrian and bicycle networks expanding across the city, as well as our green routes. This will establish new recreational areas and provide sea access for Limassol’s western districts,” the mayor said.
Initial interventions have already begun before the main redevelopment takes place.
“From the very start, we began by cleaning the beach,” Armeftis said. “We demolished buildings, planted more than 500 saplings, constructed a bridge, and built a one-kilometre pedestrian and bicycle path equipped with solar lighting for residents to enjoy. Alongside this, we cleared approximately 3,000 tonnes—nearly 300 truckloads—of rubble and discarded items that had turned the area into a dumping ground.”
The municipality aims to deliver visible changes to the public before the overarching project reaches completion.
“We want these spaces delivered gradually to society so citizens can use them. This allows us to see how they function in practice and identify real needs,” Armeftis said.
The municipality is also advancing its next immediate step to link the area with the port. Work is currently finalising on the design of a final 400-metre section to connect the Garyllis River area with the roundabout at the passenger terminal entrance.
This specific intervention is considered critical, as it establishes the first physical links between the beachfront, Aktaia Odos, and the port, opening the path for full integration. Tenders for the execution of this temporary route to the port are expected to be launched within June, according to municipal planning.
The municipality is preparing its next major step, which involves an architectural competition scheduled for launch in 2027.
“The Municipal Council has decided to advance the project through an architectural competition. The necessary maturation phase is currently underway,” Armeftis said.
The preparatory process has started with the participation of academic institutions and specialised consultants.
“We are maturing the project to launch an architectural competition. Our consulting team includes the University of Cyprus and Frederick University, which are helping shape the terms of the competition. Concurrently, an initial master plan is being drafted, and both the study area and the broader development zone have been defined to provide a comprehensive view of how the entire zone will evolve,” Armeftis said.
The municipality has initiated contact with all primary stakeholders, as the project’s success relies on public-private coordination.
“A meeting has already taken place with DP World and Eurogate, the companies operating at the port. During July, we will hold meetings with all major landowners in the area, as well as involved public services like the Town Planning Department, Public Works, and the Department of Environment,” Armeftis said.
Public dialogue is scheduled to open by September through workshops and community presentations, ensuring citizen views and needs help shape the final competition terms.
“All of these meetings are an inseparable part of the process to properly prepare the terms of the architectural competition,” Armeftis said, noting that while the council decision is finalised, technical and organisational preparation takes precedence.
“The project needs to mature, the selection committee is currently being formed, and an organising committee will be established to manage and execute the competition,” the mayor said.
The future of the Karnagio shipyard sits at the heart of the Aktaia Odos plan, presenting one of the largest issues to resolve before full redevelopment can proceed.
“The solution is not to shut down businesses. The solution is to relocate them to an organised space,” Armeftis said. “A country like Cyprus, with so many marinas and such a significant maritime presence, cannot afford to lack a modern shipyard. To achieve this, the government must find a suitable coastal site where these businesses can operate safely, with proper infrastructure and respect for the environment.”
The responsibility for zoning a new site lies with the state to ensure these businesses can grow within a modern framework, Armeftis said. The current setup creates major constraints, as the shipyard sits within a beach protection zone and its present uses no longer align with the broader planning and future needs of the area.
Though major investments are targeting the area, Armeftis emphasised the need for balance to prevent development from altering the region’s identity.
“The area has its own history. Industrial buildings form part of Limassol’s identity, and we must find ways to preserve and utilise them, particularly for cultural and alternative uses,” Armeftis said.
The area is expected to change drastically over the coming years under a planning framework that permits high-rise structures. The local area plan allows developments of up to 30 storeys and heights reaching 120 metres. Construction is already underway on the first major tower exceeding 30 storeys, with further investments expected to follow.