Infrastructure Minister says Rikoti Highway construction did not cause landslide risks on section
Karseladze was commenting on the threats of landslides developing during the Rikoti Highway construction after recent media reports that said the risks had been caused by the heavy works on the section. Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure
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Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Tuesday said the landslide risks observed last month on the kilometre 149 section of the Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between the western and eastern parts of the country, had not been caused by the construction works on a new highway through the Pass.
Karseladze was commenting on the threats of landslides developing during the Rikoti Highway construction after recent media reports that said the risks had been caused by the heavy works on the section.
The Minister said cracks had been revealed 200 metres from the existing road after snow melted in the area, leading to the section being closed to traffic on March 29 and drivers redirected to the Gomi-Sachkhere-Chiatura-Zestaponi direction.
He also said studies were launched on the geological conditions in the area, and added the authorities recognised the “unpopular” nature of the decision to close the highway that allows through most of the traffic between the western and eastern parts of the country.
Traffic on Rikoti Pass resumed under “special regime” on April 8.
The Interior Ministry of Georgia on Tuesday rejected recent media reports on vehicle traffic disruption on the Rikoti Pass section “for several days” as “misinformation”.
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.
Vehicle traffic on Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, was restored on Saturday under a “special regime”, with the recommendation of specialists, the Roads Department of Georgia said.
Giorgi Tsereteli, the Chairman of the Roads Department of Georgia, on Friday said Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, was closed to all types of vehicles due to a risk of a landslide, and added its professionals were working to restore traffic “as soon as possible”.
The special traffic mode on the Rikoti Pass crossing between the eastern and western parts of Georgia will be lifted before the start of the summer season, Georgia’s Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze announced on Tuesday.
Giorgi Tsereteli, the Chair of the Roads Department of Georgia on Thursday said all sections of Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, would be safe and all works were being carried out “according to the plan”.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Friday called the “false” accusations by the domestic opposition on the financial statements regarding the construction of Rikoti Highway “absolute nonsense” and said the International Financial Institution carried out money transfers itself.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Monday rejected what he called “artificial fear and tension” around the construction of the Rikoti Highway in central Georgia as “groundless”, following claims by a part of the domestic opposition about environmental issues of the project and possibility of selection of contractor companies under international sanctions.