The Nicosia city council voted to approve the partial re-opening of Makarios Avenue to vehicle traffic, following a long deliberation that concluded late on Thursday night. 

Councillors voted to open the street to all traffic on weekdays for the passage of all vehicles between 7am and 9pm.

Between 9 pm and 7 am on weekdays and on weekends, the avenue will be used only by authorised vehicles – buses, taxis, residents, and employees of the area, as it is at present.

On Friday, Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said the decision was “respected” despite having previously raised concerns and objections to the idea.

He said he will notify the traffic authorities and the relevant bodies of the European Union, with the road’s layout and accessibility having been a stipulation of EU funding handed to the Nicosia municipality when the road was being renovated.

“We must, of course, await the decision of the competent traffic authorities, which is binding, and therefore, we cannot implement anything without their approval,” he said, adding that as such, the road will remain on Friday and over the weekend under its current regime.

He added that while it is not necessary to await the EU’s opinion on the road’s status, “it would be wiser, before we implement the decision, to also have [its] position”.

Additionally, he said, the majority of councillors had resolved that even if the EU is against the road’s reopening to traffic, they should proceed.

The decision was, according to newspaper Politis spearheaded by Disy councillors, and was passed by a majority vote on the strength of councillors from Diko, Edek, and Elam. The initiative was opposed by both Akel and the Green party.

The regulations apply from the Lycabettus police station up to and including Solomos Square. 

At the same time, the municipal council decided to allow vehicles on Makarios avenue’s adjacent Mnasiadou and Bouboulina streets to turn left onto it, on the grounds that large car parks are located on those streets. 

The municipality is expected to approach the European Union with the aim of securing its consent, given that previous similar attempts have put the capital at odds with the bloc.

In 2021, the audit office had stepped in to say that allowing private cars to use the stretch of road between the Evagorou intersection and the old Debenhams building could also cause the Nicosia Municipality to lose out on EU funding.

Audit office spokesman Marios Petrides said at the time that funds had been allocated “under specific conditions” and that a change in the plans would violate the agreement.

“Should the municipality go ahead with the change of plans and allow the transit of vehicles on Makarios Avenue, the government will have to withdraw the funds and allocate them to other projects,” he added.