Highway or freeway? From Moni to Limassol, drivers are stuck in traffic jams.

What should be a fast route through southern Cyprus increasingly resembles a slow-moving highway. Congestion before Limassol, on the city ring road, and at subsequent exits makes the journey demanding, above all, patience. Our observations suggest that problems begin as early as the Moni area, with further slowdowns following drivers all the way to the Alphamega Stadium exit.

Limassol's traffic jams aren't just the result of one roadwork. They're a daily problem for residents, commuters, and travelers passing through the city. This week, the disruption is compounded by the roadworks near Paphos, which are scheduled to end on Friday, October 16th. However, their completion won't solve the problems on the Limassol bypass.

Traffic jams in Limassol start even before the city

Coming from Nicosia or Larnaca, you might encounter slowdowns even before entering Limassol. Traffic begins to thicken in the Moni area, and then, instead of a smooth ride, there are more and more sections of braking, stopping, and slow starts.

From a driver's perspective, it's not always one continuous traffic jam. It often feels like a series of hold-ups: a few minutes of driving, then a queue, a brief improvement, and then another hold-up.

Driving through Limassol can therefore become a test of patience. This applies even to those who don't intend to enter the city but want to continue their journey towards Paphos.

The bypass road that doesn't allow you to bypass Limassol efficiently

The bypass should ease traffic congestion on city streets and enable efficient travel between the island's regions. It will also serve commuters and commuters between districts.

As a result, local and through traffic meet on the same route. At entrances and exits, cars change lanes, joining or attempting to leave the traffic flow.

Our observations include further slowdowns through Limassol, all the way to the Alphamega Stadium exit. This doesn't mean that each section is closed all day, but it does illustrate how difficult it is to predict travel times when multiple queues can occur during a single journey.

For residents, it's time wasted every day. For those driving further afield, it's an obstacle they can't avoid by simply staying on the highway.

The Way of Free Movement – an increasingly accurate term

Formally, it remains a highway. In practice, drivers increasingly travel at the speed of a city street, even though they still have dozens of kilometers ahead of them.

The term "slow traffic" captures this frustration well. The problem isn't just the queue itself, but also the uncertainty of how long the journey will take.

Leaving early becomes essential for commuting to work, attending appointments, or traveling to the airport. It's difficult to plan your day when the time it takes to cover the same route varies significantly from one trip to the next.

This is also why the discussion about transportation in Limassol shouldn't end with the question of where to widen the road. The ability to commute daily without having to use a car is also important.

Paphos faces additional disruptions until Friday

This week, drivers heading further west will also encounter roadworks on the A6 motorway, in the areas of Agia Varvara and Konia.

According to the announced schedule, the works are to be completed on Friday, October 16, and are conducted during the following hours: 8:00–16:00, towards Paphos. Traffic is being diverted onto the old road and local detours.

Philenews reported on the long queues and MP Valentinos Fakontis's report of travelers missing their flights. Therefore, those using Paphos Airport should continue to be aware of the disruptions and check for updates.

However, this renovation has a specific completion date. Daily traffic jams in Limassol will remain a problem even after its completion.

Drivers need predictable travel

Completion of the work before Paphos should eliminate one of the current bottlenecks. However, it will not change the daily experience of those traveling through Limassol.

Residents need the ability to plan their commute without adding more time. Travelers want to drive through the city instead of making multiple stops on the ring road.

As long as driving from Moni through Limassol means more queues, the joke about the “slow road” will remain a description of an ordinary day for many drivers.

Sources: CyprNews editorial observations, Department of Public Works, Cyprus Police, RIK, Philenews.