Roads Department: Rikoti Highway to be completed in 2023

Construction of the new Rikoti Highway is set to be completed this year, the Roads Department of Georgia said on Monday while rejecting media reports that suggested the work had been delayed from its original deadline of 2022.

The Department’s comments came following a report by Formula TV on the topic, with the state body’s response alleging an association of unspecified “outlets” with the United National Movement opposition party in attempts to “spread misinformation” and calling the report on the Highway project’s missed deadline a “lie”.

It is also a lie that it is still unknown when the project will be completed. The end of 2023 is announced as the deadline for the completion of the project in the public communication”, it said.

The body also rejected accusations of corruption in the infrastructural project, and said “all companies” involved in design, construction and supervision had been selected through international tenders.

The tenders have been carried out according to the rules established by international financial institutions and under their strict supervision. All steps, all decisions are agreed and confirmed by the relevant international financial institutions, following their policies and rules”, it added.

The Department also rejected claims the project posed a risk to residential houses located nearby the Rikoti Tunnel.

“All houses within 250 metres from the Tunnel have been marked, without excess being recorded [...] In addition, in October 2022, technical conditions of residential houses were checked by the National Forensics Bureau, [which confirmed] none of the residential houses were affected by the ongoing construction works on the project”, the body said.