The tender for the Agia Marinoudа–Stroumbi section of the Paphos–Polis Chrysochous motorway closes today, following a legal challenge, a court-ordered suspension and a series of deadline extensions that have stretched the process since August 2025. The cost of the project exceeds €100 million.
The tender was launched on August 8, 2025, with an original submission deadline of November 7, 2025. On August 18, 2025, contractor AKTOR filed a challenge before the Tenders Review Authority (TRA), seeking cancellation of the tender and the imposition of interim measures. The TRA issued prohibitory measures on August 22, suspending the procurement process.
The TRA issued its final decision on November 19, 2025, rejecting all grounds for cancellation put forward by AKTOR. An earlier interim decision on October 24 had extended the submission deadline to February 6, 2026. Following the lifting of the prohibitory measures, the deadline was moved first to February 27, then to March 27, and most recently to today, April 17, 2026.
The final extension was granted at the request of economic operators and contractors, with the aim of broadening participation and strengthening competition.
By March 13, 2026, 64 questions had been submitted to the Public Works Department (PWD), which responded through 11 clarificatory addenda. The PWD said the volume of questions indicated significant market interest and expected it to translate into a satisfactory number of bids.
Two risk factors remain, according to the PWD and competent sources. The first is the international oil price environment: developments in the Gulf and rising fuel costs could push submitted bids above the PWD’s project estimate, which was prepared in May 2025 before those market shifts. The PWD said this factor is being closely monitored so that appropriate decisions can be taken at the evaluation stage.
The second risk is the possibility of a hierarchical appeal to the TRA after the contract is awarded, which could again delay the start of works.
Competent sources said the government, drawing on its experience handling the previous challenge, is prepared to defend the contracting authority’s position fully and swiftly in the event of any new challenge, in full respect of legal procedures.
Evaluation of bids will follow standard procurement procedures, with the aim of swift award and an early start to construction. The contract duration has been set at 30 months. Both the award and the start of works are contingent on no hierarchical appeal being filed.