Heavy snow hits Georgia’s main roads

Heavy snowfall, low visibility and ice has caused problems on roads throughout Georgia.

The Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia today announced several road sections were currently facing restrictions.

In particular, the affected roads were the following:

• The 138-152km section of the western, Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze road (affecting the villages of Chumateleti and Khevi near the Rikoti Pass) was closed to trailer trucks and semi-trailer trucks. The section was open to other vehicles.
• The Gudauri-Kobi section of eastern Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi route was closed to all transport due to a threat of avalanche. The Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi road links Georgia with Russia.
• The Aragvispiri-Larsi section of the same road was closed to trailer trucks, semi-trailers and vehicles with more than 30-seat capacity. All other of vehicles were allowed to freely move along this section;
• The Mleta-Gudauri section of the same road was open to off-road vehicles, while other transport could only move using anti-skid chains;
• The 37-50km section (the Nakerala Pass) of the Kutaisi-Tkibuli-Ambrolauri road in western Georgia was closed to trailer trucks, semi-trailers and vehicles with more than 30-seat capacity. All other vehicles were allowed to freely move along this section;
• The 30-188km road section (between the villages of Jvari and Ushguli) of western Zugdidi-Jvari-Mestia-Lasdili route was closed to trailer trucks, semi-trailers and vehicles with more than 30-seat capacity. The 100-188km section of the same route (the villages of Lakhamura and Ushguli) was open to non-off-road vehicles who used anti-skid chains. No restrictions were imposed for off-road vehicles.
• The 94-110km road section of the southern Koda-Partskhisi-Manglisi-Tsalka-Ninotsminda route, which is a pass area, was closed for all transport.

The agency said all the relevant bodies were alert to clean affected roads in a timely manner.