We are going through a heavy period of climate problems. I cannot remember us experiencing such heavy and long lasting rainy weather.
Although this situation has been good for our producers and our underwater sources, it has been a bad period in terms of the damage done to our roads. Through scientific studies, action will be taken to eliminate the exposed deficiencies of the infrastructures, which have been neglected for many years, and to renew our highways.
The current weather conditions in the country, which have sped up the impairment of the roads, are making it impossible for us to carry out repair works. We cannot work on wet and damp grounds, and the temporary repair works we have carried out during the dry days have again been impaired by the rain. We have identified all impairments on the roads within the field of the Highways Department. Once weather permits, we will begin the repair work.
I think it is beneficial to share with the pubic the general conditions of the Highways Department. Years of neglect and incompetency has forced the Highways Department into a functionless position, in terms of its team and structure. The asphalt plant and infrastructure materials site, belonging to the Department, has been closed and the department has been put in a position in which it cannot find materials for the routine maintenance work. The Department which carries the responsibilities of the maintenance of all of the country’s roads has been put in a position in which it struggles to find a truck of asphalt.
Parallel to this, due to the absence of planning of a healthy staff and vehicles, personnel hardy remain in most of the departments as many have retired over the years, while due to a lack of renewal of the car parks, the opportunities and capabilities of the Department have been obstructed.
In spite of all of these problems, our Highways Department, which is struggling to meet the levels of efficiency expected by the country, is working tirelessly to solve the problems.
In this framework, a series of work has been carried out aiming to solve the problems of the Department and the problems of the country’s roads.
Collaboration has been made with EMU, LEU and METU for the study and reporting of the suitability of the physical condition of our roads, drainage systems and engineering structures to the increased amount of rainfall.
Teaming up with asphalt facilities and engineers across the country, a comprehensive study was carried out.
According to this, starting with the main arterial roads, a tender has been prepared in areas of responsibility divided equally among local contracting companies, for the construction, maintenance and repair work, under the control and coordination of the Highways Department.
After the preparation of the necessary specifications, annual agreements areas of responsibility will be created with a tendering procedure and work will start in all areas.
In the same way, another tender will be created identifying areas of responsibility divided among electrical engineers in the country for the annual construction, maintenance and repair work, in the framework of faulty and inefficient road lighting of main roads. To this regard, the deficiencies have been identified and the process for tender will begin after the specifications are prepared.
We have also prepared a general construction and repair tender for traffic and warning signs in a bid to solve the problems, especially with large signs, within the framework of our work to renew traffic signs across the country.
According to this, in the first stage, 1000 m2 of new signs will be tendered and begin to be placed. Also, work will be done to bring about a standard regarding signs and the appearance.
Lastly, work is continuing on specifications for the tender of thermoplastic road lines that are durable and suitable to our country’s climate. Once completed it will go to tender and lines on all main roads under our jurisdiction will be painted with thermoplastic paint. Our work continues on these important steps, with the collaboration of our Finance Ministry. Work will start once weather conditions are suitable.
Ongoing work in partnershiop with the Waterworks Department, Girne District Office and Highways Department to find a permanent solution to the problems at the Ciklos area of the Girne-Lefkoşa road, following the natural disaster, is coming to an end.
Within the framework of collaboration with universities, a sizing project carried out by METU and the Waterworks Department, is reaching its final stages. Once completed, construction work will immediately follow. We are taking precautionary measures against more possible anomalous rainfall, regarding the area’s drainage capacity.
Work dealing with the problems at Yeşilköy, following the natural disaster, has finished and the contractor which won the tender was given a go ahead.
In 1999 when this road was being renewed, it was decided – with what logic it is not clear – to remove the culvert/bridge there. To prevent a repeat of the problems caused, a new bridge will be built at that location. The work is estimated to take 45 days. Work to renew our roads will be based on scientific reports.