New section of Tbilisi Bypass Road will open this summer

Rehabilitation works to upgrade the Tbilisi Bypass Road are progressing well; work on the latest section is due to end this summer meaning traffic will soon be able to bypass the central city on a new road that meets international standards.

The 49km Tbilisi Bypass Rd will offer vehicles an alternative route around Georgia’s capital. This will reduce the number of cars on central Tbilisi roads and offer a faster drive time for motorists wanting to pass through Tbilisi.

Today the Roads Department of Georgia said rehabilitation works was currently underway on the 14km section of the bypass road.

This involved bridges being resurfaced and two-layer asphalt-concrete pavement being constructed.

The works also included creating entrances to private yards, public transport stops and enclosed bus stops. Creating new structures and renovating existing culverts, shoulders, ditches and gabions was also part of the rehabilitation works.

The Roads Department said new road signs would be installed, and the road would be adequately marked.

More than 12 million GEL (about $5.45 million/ˆ4.80 million*) was allocated from the state budget to fund the rehabilitation of this section of road, which passed through the Gardabani Municipality, namely the villages of Gamarjveba and Gardabani.

Rehabilitation of the 14th km section of road started in 2015 and will be finished this summer. It is unknown how long it will take to upgrade the remaining sections of the bypass and when the road will open to traffic.

The Agency said the Tbilisi Bypass Rd had great importance; it would provide a city detour route to transit local and international goods, cementing Georgia’s reputation as an East-West transit nation.

Work to rehabilitate the Tbilisi Bypass Road began in 2013. The bypass road spans 49km long; starting from Zahesi - a small settlement at the western entrance of Tbilisi – and continues to Rustavi in southeast Georgia. (Agenda.ge)