2022-04-16
Along with improving road safety, the construction of Kakheti Expressway will shorten travel time from Tbilisi to Kakheti by half, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated while visiting Tbilisi-Sagarejo Highway today where he, together with Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Irakli Karseladze, familiarized himself with the construction of this 35-kilometer section.
The Prime Minister emphasized that, in line with the Government's 10-year plan, 2 billion GEL will be invested in upgrading Kakheti's road infrastructure, of which 1 billion GELs' worth of work is already underway.
This expressway of international importance is being constructed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
The Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Irakli Karseladze briefed the Head of Government on the ongoing activities, also point out that, as part of the 85-kilometer expressway, work is in full swing on the 35-kilometer Tbilisi-Sagarejo section bypassing Vaziani.
Tbilisi-Sagarejo Highway comprises three sections, with a 4-lane cement and concrete expressway equipped with outdoor lighting under construction, a project valued at over 527 million GEL is financed from the state budget.
Based on engineering and financial analyses conducted by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, the road construction site was divided into lots to ensure a high level of competition and also allowing Georgian companies to participate independently in the tender bidding. A Georgian company has won the bid on the construction of one of the Tbilisi-Sagarejo sections of Kakheti Expressway.
The project of Kakheti Expressway was developed by highly qualified Austrian and German companies, with support from the World Bank.
The Tbilisi-Sagarejo section is part of the main Tbilisi-Kakheti connector and of the transit corridor linking to Azerbaijan's northwestern region. The intensity of traffic flows along the Tbilisi-Sagarejo section has grown significantly, and the existing road passes through villages and cities.
The construction of the new road will improve road safety tremendously, one of the main challenges under the current circumstances.
The project will also encourage the competitiveness of the transit corridors passing through Georgia's territory.
Besides constructing road infrastructure in Kakheti, 18 projects valued cumulatively at 61 million GEL are being implemented under rehabilitation efforts, ultimately including the rehabilitation of 65 kilometers of roads and one bridge, also 9 riverbank reinforcement projects.
On his visit to the construction site, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Dedoplistskaro and Sighnaghi Majoritarian MP Davit Songhulashvili, Sagarejo Municipality Mayor Avtandil Gulikashvili, Head of the Government Administration's Regional Liaison Department Leri Barnabishvili, and Kakheti Region State Representative Irakli Shioshvili.
Press Service of the Government Administration