Vehicle restrictions on Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi Rd remain in place

Vehicle restrictions on several sections of mountainous roads in eastern Georgia that were damaged by flooding and a landslide last month remain in place.

A special schedule has been introduced to coordinate the rehabilitation response efforts on the damaged Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi Rd sections. 

In these areas relevant crews are fixing the roads that were damaged in a landslide that was caused by heavy rain on August 21, stated officials. 

From today to September 15, private vehicles will be restricted from travelling between the 134th and 135th kilometre section of the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi Rd between 8.30pm and 5.30am. This will be extended to all vehicles from midnight to 5.30am.

In addition, buses that carry more than 30 people will not be permitted to travel on that section of road from midnight to 5.30am.

Meanwhile special rules will come into force if bad weather repeats itself, such as heavy rain or snowfall. In these cases restrictions will apply from 8:30pm to 5:30am for all vehicles.

A strong storm hit eastern Georgia on August 21, where hail caused major damage in Kakheti region, damaging harvests and infrastructure.

A subsequent flood followed the hailstorm, which caused problems on several sections of road, especially those leading from Kakheti to the mountain regions. 

Locals living in villages in Kakheti said they had not witnessed such a large-scaled natural disaster in the last hundred years.