Heavy snowfall closes roads in mountainous Georgia

Heavy snowfall has caused traffic problems in several parts of the country, mostly in mountainous areas.

Georgia’s Road Department has announced that road cleaning works will soon start at the Jvari pass, in eastern Kazbegi municipality.

For now all vehicle traffic is prohibited on the route.

We are cleaning roads now at Kobi and Gudauri in the east of the country. The snow level on the territory is about one meter. On the Jvari pass there is a threat of avalanche and we are waiting for the permission from Georgia’s National Agency of Environment to start works,” the Road Department announced.

The 52rd and 106th section of eastern Korsha-Shatili road are closed to all vehicles.

The Road Department stated that in the west of the country, towards the Kutaisi-Motsameta-Tkibuli-Ambrolauri direction, the movement of trailers and semi-trailers is restricted at the 71st section of the route due to the fall of a large amount of rocks. 

However, village roads of Itsa and Akhalsopeli have been used as an alternative for other vehicles.

Due to the hard weather conditions and the threat of avalanches, traffic is slow at Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi road, connecting Georgia with Russia.

Georgia’s Ministry of Infrastructure has handed food to the people who have to stand in long queues on the road.