Heavy snow hits Georgia’s main roads

Heavy snowfall throughout Georgia has caused problems and restrictions are in place on some roads following the threat of storm, avalanches and icing. 

The Road Department of Georgia imposed restrictions on several roads, mainly in the country’s mountainous regions.

A major restriction was in place along the 138-157km section (Chumateleti-Khunevi not far from the Rikoti Pass) of the western, Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze road. Drivers of trailer trucks and semi-trailer trucks were prevented from using the route. The route is open to other traffic.

Additionally, due to heavy snow, storm and icing, restrictions were set on eastern Georgian roads too. Trailer trucks and semi-trailer trucks were prohibited from moving along the 20-160km section of the Tbilisi-Bakurtsikhe-Lagodekhi road near the border with Azerbaijan.

Cars were allowed drive along the 1-58km section of the Vaziani-Gombori-Telavi road only with anti-skid chains.

Restriction was in place along the eastern, mountainous Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi road section too. All drivers had to use snit-skid chains. As for the Gudauri-Kobi road section, drivers were allowed to drive without stopping their vehicle only through avalanche-protected tunnels. The tunnels were open to trailer trucks, semi-trailer trucks and vehicles with more than 30-seat capacity only in one direction.

The same road section is fully open to all-wheel drive vehicles.

Meanwhile trailer trucks, semi-trailer trucks and vehicles with more than 30-seat capacity were prohibited from using the 36-72km section of the western, Kutaisi-Tkibuli-Ambrolauri road and the 147-188km section of the Zugdidi-Mestia-Lasdili road.

Officials from the Road Department officers were working "around the clock” to clean the roads.

Snow caused problems not only to traffic but electricity supply too. In western Georgia’s Adjara region dozens of villages left without electricity as the snow cover reached one meter at some areas.

Official weather forecasts said air temperature would harshly drop tomorrow.

According to the National Environmental Agency, the night temperatures will decrease to -12 degrees in eastern Georgia’s lower areas, to -16 degrees in mountainous locations and to -23 in high mountains. As for Tbilisi, the air temperature will be -8 degrees tonight.

Officials warned roads and electricity lines could get frozen.