Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Hi Kibkomers,
Just been informed of long delays at the Metehan Crossing, Nicosia, both ways.
Due to road works today, there is a contraflow system in place.
This is causing tailbacks and long delays,Tuesday 25th April.
Travellers may need to add 1 hour or more to your journey for flights from the south.

We were delayed by 30 minutes coming North just before noon. The queue going South looked twice as long. It looks like it might be a few days of disruption as the road on the North bound side has been dug up at the booths and no-one was working on repairing it. Contra flow was in operation on the South bound lanes.

Whilst repair work is underway at Metehan a contraflow is in operation, effectively reducing throughput capacity to 50%.. If you are heading that way to catch a flight or for a time specific event you will need to give yourself an extra 30 mins to get across or back.

Added problem today with the electrics the computers were down.
Took me an hour and a quarter to get from the Coca Cola factory lights to the crossing point.

Took us 30 minutes going south 11.00 am this morning and 1hour and a half 3.30 this afternoon they had dug a hole in the road and there were 3 men looking into to it not much else going on .

Anyone been today please? We are thinking of going tomorrow but certainly do not want to be stuck in traffic for hours!!

Article in Kibris online today http://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/trafik/me ... iyet/17339
Last line translates to:

It is reported that the repair work on the road within the boundaries of Metehan will continue today.

So anybody's guess as to whether it will be finished. We went through at 9am yesterday morning and there was no queue even though contraflow was in operation, came back just before noon and 30 minutes wait. If you have to go, go early.

Thanks Aylin good advice!

we went straight through yesterday at midday on our way to Larnaca Aiport , looked as though there was a queue coming back across in the north

Went South today contraflow in operation had to queue 20 mins around 9.15 due to coach in front of us. Coming back at 12 GC police were looking in every boot must be for people smuggling as it was only a cursory glance once the boot was open! Only 4 in front of us at our check point but it seemed to be very slow processing so building up behind they then opened the other side so maybe the work is finished?

I went today about 10am, queued 15/20 mins but that was mostly waiting to cross Greek side. Back 2 pm, a queue but moving, contraflow still operating but our customs were checking every car boot ... except mine !!, much better than I was expecting.

Went over at about 09.30 this morning, small queue but nothing out of the ordinary, coming back across about 12.30 was fine

Went over today about 10.am, no problems either way, seems as if the work is finished.

When the delays at Metehan are this bad it can be quicker to cross at Beyarmardu, then pick up the motorway to south Nicosia at Pyla.

If you're heading for Larnaca airport this may be a better route anyway, and iIf you're going south to shop also bear in mind that many of the main chain stores like Publix, Scandia, Electroline, Carrefour, Lidls etc also have shops in Larnaca (15 minutes form Pyla).

"...If you're heading for Larnaca airport this may be a better route anyway..." - perhaps, if you're well east of Girne....

The Beyarmudu/Pile crossing is a longer route, BUT it avoids the queues at Metahan, and what can be stop-start traffic in Nicosia.
I live near Girne and have always found this is a quicker route, and roughly similar in terms of fuel consumption as you are mainly driving in top gear.

It's back to 2 lanes both ways yesterday ( Friday 12 noon) although they are still doing a bit of work but we had absolutely no delay , in fact it took about 5 mins in total , .