A contract for the upgrade of an electronic platform that will contribute to the more efficient management of the road network, amounting to €1,021,348, including VAT, was signed on Thursday between the Government and the company «Swarco Italia SRL».
According to an announcement, the contract, lasting eight months, with six years of maintenance, which was signed at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, in the presence of the competent Minister Yannis Karousos, concerns the maintenance and upgrading of the electronic platform "OMNIA– MISTIC», which is a complete solution for the management of equipment and traffic data in the road network of Cyprus.
The contract was signed, on behalf of the Government, by the Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works Eleni Kaskiri and on behalf of of the company «Swarco Italia SRL», the Senior Director of International Sales Biora Fabrizio.
The said investment, according to the announcement, will help to better manage the road network by increasing its safety and capacity by quickly responding to incidents and providing information to drivers.
Also, plenty of traffic data free of charge, through the National Access Point, to network users, to individuals for the development of navigation applications and to research or university institutions for research and development purposes.
It is noted that successful traffic management applications led to an increase in the capacity of road networks by up to 10%, a reduction in travel time by 20%, a reduction in the number of accidents by 15% and a reduction in fuel consumption.
It is also reported that the purchase, installation and connection of the platform to the control center located at the Head Offices of the Public Works Department is financed by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus through the Greece-Cyprus Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2014-2020, Step2Smart Act, Fund « “Connecting Europe” for Trans-European Transport Networks.
It is added that the above platform will be connected to the existing Intelligent Transport Systems installed by the Department of Public Works on the highways, the main road network of Nicosia and the city entrances, while the existing systems include more than 120 traffic meters, 26 cameras surveillance of the road network and 4 Variable Message Signs.
According to the announcement, the system managers, through the platform, will utilize the information and data of the sensors, with the aim of visualizing and analyzing results for the better management of traffic flow and the development of flexible mobility policies.
As mentioned, through the platform "OMNIA– MISTIC» the management of the 4 Variable Message Signs that will display traffic information to passing drivers will be achieved, with the aim of informing them in time about the prevailing traffic conditions they will face on their way, e.g. congestion, incidents and works on the road network, if diversions are implemented or even the travel time.
Two signs will be placed on the Larnaca – Nicosia and Limassol – Nicosia highways at the height of the Alhambra, in the direction of Nicosia, and two in positions opposite the highway at the height of the Latsion weighing station.
It is also reported that the electronic platform in question will be connected to equipment that will be installed in the next three years by the Department of Public Works to fully cover the main road network and motorways of Cyprus, with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF). For example, the installation of 40 additional electronic information boards, 170 traffic surveillance cameras and 180 traffic meters is planned.
Source: KYPE
