Heavy snowfall leads to traffic restrictions across Georgia
The Roads Department of Georgia on Monday imposed traffic restrictions on several sections in the west and north of the country due to heavy snowfall. Photo: Roads Department
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The Roads Department of Georgia on Monday imposed traffic restrictions on several sections in the west and north of the country due to heavy snowfall.
Traffic has been prohibited for trailers and semi-trailers on the kilometre 39-52 section of the Nakerala Pass of the Kutaisi-Tkibuli-Ambrolauri highway in the west of the country.
Trailers and semi-trailers are also not allowed on the Sachkhere-Uzunta-Skhmeri-Zudali road in the west, while access is open to other types of vehicles.
The Department on Sunday said traffic on the Gudauri-Kobi section of the international Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi road, connecting Georgia and Russia through the Caucasus mountains, was restricted for trailers and semi-trailers due to snow and low temperature.
The National Environment Agency said traffic on the section would be allowed only through avalanche tunnels under “direct supervision and coordination” of police.
A message was sent on Sunday via Georgia's Emergency Service 112 to residents of the country, warning about a "sharp deterioration" in the weather and heavy precipitation for November 27-28.
The Land Transport Agency of Georgia on Tuesday announced changes for traffic rules for international carriers at the Kazbegi customs checkpoint on the border between Georgia and Russia.
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”.
Rikoti Pass, a crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, will be closed between Thursday and Friday to all types of vehicles due to a risk of landslide, the Roads Department of Georgia said on Thursday.
One person died and four, including a minor, were injured on Tuesday evening as strong winds uprooted trees, downed power lines and caused property damage in western Georgia.
Firefighters of the Emergency Management Service, patrol police and criminal police departments have been mobilised across regions of Georgia to help citizens amid deteriorated weather conditions with strong winds, heavy precipitation and storms, the body said on Monday.
Tornike Rijvadze, the Chairman of the Government of the western Georgian region of Adjara, on Monday inspected areas affected by heavy rainfall and storm in cities of Batumi and Kobuleti.
Drivers accessing road sections designated as “special zones” across Georgia will be required to have winter tyres equipped on their vehicles between December 1 and March 1, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Friday.
Professionals of the Roads Department of Georgia are carrying out intensive road clearing works around the country to clear snowfall-affected roads and restore the traffic “as soon as possible”, the state body said on Sunday.
Heavy overnight snowfall has caused delays in train services and led to restrictions to road traffic in Georgia’s west, stopping trains and causing road sections to be closed to vehicles.