Road opens to Gudauri, other sections still closed

Road restrictions to Georgia’s top ski resort Gudauri have been lifted today, meaning holiday-makers and winter enthusiasts can now access the mountain after the main road from Tbilisi was closed for most of the day.

However, continuing bad weather means restrictions remain in place on another section of the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi road as well as in Svaneti in Georgia’s west.

• Due to heavy snow, ice and avalanche threats the Kala-Ushguli route in western Georgia’s Svaneti region is closed for all vehicles.
• The Lakhamura-Kala section of the same road is closed to truck and trailer units, semi-trailers and vehicles that can carry more than 30 passengers. Off-road vehicles are allowed to move along the route without restrictions.
• The Gudauri-Kobi section of eastern Georgia’s Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi route remains closed for all vehicles due to a storm and avalanche threat.
• The Aragvispiri-Gudauri-Larsi section of the same road was closed to truck and trailer units, semi-trailers and vehicles with 30-seat capacity.

The Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi road is the route linking Georgia with Russia. The Mleta-Gudauri section of this route was closed to cars without anti-skid chains earlier today but this restriction was removed about 3pm, meaning all vehicles are now allowed to drive to Gudauri from Tbilisi direction.