The final day of resurfacing works on the A2 motorway between the Rizoelia roundabout and the Athienou exit caused kilometre-long tailbacks on 3 November, with morning commuters reporting delays of up to 40 minutes. Police urged drivers heading to Larnaca Airport—a key hub for 55 departures on Monday—to add at least one extra hour to their journey.
The works, which began on 29 October, involved lane closures in both directions from 08:30 to 16:30. Although scheduled outside peak holiday season, the timing clashed with the arrival wave for the COSPAR Symposium and diverted freight from striking Limassol Port to Larnaca’s cargo terminal, compounding congestion.
![Roadworks choke Larnaca–Nicosia motorway, prompting travel-time warnings for flyers]()
Hermes Airports activated its contingency ‘‘Late-Show’’ desks, allowing passengers stuck in traffic to fast-track check-in up to 25 minutes before departure, while several airlines waived no-show fees for the day. Ride-share data from Bolt showed a 32 % surge in airport bookings via back-road routes through Aradippou and Troulloi.
Transport engineers say the resurfacing is part of a €14 million upgrade designed to extend the motorway’s lifespan by 15 years and introduce reflective lane markings for better night safety. However, the incident rekindled calls from the Tourism Association for a dedicated express rail link between Nicosia and Larnaca Airport, shelved earlier this year due to cost.
Travellers over the next fortnight should monitor the Public Works Department’s live map, as intermittent shoulder closures will continue for line-painting. Freight forwarders are advised to shift pick-ups to off-peak windows or reroute via the A1 motorway through Kofinou.
The works, which began on 29 October, involved lane closures in both directions from 08:30 to 16:30. Although scheduled outside peak holiday season, the timing clashed with the arrival wave for the COSPAR Symposium and diverted freight from striking Limassol Port to Larnaca’s cargo terminal, compounding congestion.
Hermes Airports activated its contingency ‘‘Late-Show’’ desks, allowing passengers stuck in traffic to fast-track check-in up to 25 minutes before departure, while several airlines waived no-show fees for the day. Ride-share data from Bolt showed a 32 % surge in airport bookings via back-road routes through Aradippou and Troulloi.
Transport engineers say the resurfacing is part of a €14 million upgrade designed to extend the motorway’s lifespan by 15 years and introduce reflective lane markings for better night safety. However, the incident rekindled calls from the Tourism Association for a dedicated express rail link between Nicosia and Larnaca Airport, shelved earlier this year due to cost.
Travellers over the next fortnight should monitor the Public Works Department’s live map, as intermittent shoulder closures will continue for line-painting. Freight forwarders are advised to shift pick-ups to off-peak windows or reroute via the A1 motorway through Kofinou.
