Shop owners on Gladstonos Street in Limassol are outraged by a decision to close the busy street for the construction of a major anti-flooding project in the city’s centre.

According to philenews, the shop owners were informed by the contractor responsible for the project that one lane of the road on Gladstonos Street will close from for four months, starting from November 20.

Voicing their frustration to philenews, the store owners criticise both the municipal authorities and the Limassol Sewerage and Drainage Board (Sala). They argue that the construction, scheduled to begin just before the Christmas season, will block customer access, therefore affecting sales.

They add that with the start of the works, citizens will likely avoid coming to the city centre to shop due to the expected traffic congestion in the area.

“We were hoping to make up for lost revenue during the Christmas season when business is traditionally better. December is our best month, and we also have to pay out holiday bonuses. Now, with the market already slow, it’s like they did it on purpose,” says one disappointed store owner.

The shop owners claim that they were not consulted about the construction schedule and only learned about it through the contractor. They express the need for the authorities to show understanding towards businesses and recognise the significance of the Christmas season for their economic viability.

Responding to the shop owners’ concerns, Sala director Yiannis Tsouloftas, clarified that the initial plan for the roadwork was altered due to the Police’s refusal to close the entire road for six weeks. The construction is the final segment of a significant flood prevention project safeguarding Independence Avenue, he emphasised.

Tsouloftas stated that efforts and negotiations are underway with the contractor and the Limassol Municipality to pause the works from mid-December to early January to ensure uninterrupted access during the holiday season.

This issue has sparked intense deliberation among both shop owners and the project contractor, who now faces the challenge of revising the project timeline.

Notably, the area holds archaeological significance, with recent excavations uncovering ancient tombs and ancient human remains.

Sala has engaged with the Department of Antiquities to address the relocation of these findings.