Reconstruction Begins on Dipkarpaz-Manastır Road in Northern Cyprus

Work has officially begun on the long-awaited reconstruction of the Dipkarpaz-Manastır road in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), as part of the 2021–2022 TRNC Highway Master Plan.

The project was launched with a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı. Although the tender for the project was first announced back in 2013, it was never completed due to opposition from environmental groups and other challenges.

Now, thanks to a joint initiative between the Republic of Turkey and the TRNC Department of Highways, the 18-kilometre road is finally getting a much-needed upgrade. The reconstruction is expected to be completed within 3 to 4 months. The road will be widened to 6 meters throughout, and up to 8 meters in certain sections. Construction has started from the Manastır side, with work progressing in two-kilometer phases.

Minister Arıklı emphasized that the poor condition of the road had been a long-standing issue. “We’ve finally resolved another source of embarrassment,” he said. “It was truly shameful. Thousands of tourists come here every month, and this road was the first thing they saw—it shaped their impression of our country.”