Traffic to be restricted on certain streets in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi for Christmas march

Vehicle traffic will be restricted on certain streets of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on Sunday to allow the holding of the traditional celebratory Christmas march Alilo, a customary event involving children singing Christmas carols and walking through the streets, gathering presents to be later donated to charity, Tbilisi City Hall announced on Saturday.

Set to run over several hours starting at 12:00 pm, the march will see participants walk from the First Republic Square to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, passing through Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square, Baratashvili Street and Avlabari Square.

The traffic from the First Republic Square to Freedom Square will be redirected to Leonidze, Ingorokva, Aleksandre Chavchavadze, Baratashvili, Tabukashvili and Griboedovi streets, and drivers heading from Tabukashvili Street to Kostava Street, will be able to move on Rustaveli Avenue, instead of the Republic Square.

Vehicles driving from Melikishvili Avenue to other streets in the Mtatsminda district will be diverted to Janashia, Tarkhnishvili, Tatishvili, Chovelidze and Zandukeli Streets, and then to Barnovi, Gogebashvili and Dzmebi Kakabadzeebi streets.

Traffic movement will be allowed on Rustaveli Avenue up to Chanturia Street and drivers heading in the direction of Freedom Square from the Rustaveli metro station adjacent area will be redirected to Javakhishvili Street and the right bank of the River Mtkvari.

Restrictions for traffic will also be applied from Kote Apkhazi and Shalva Dadiani streets in the direction of Freedom Square, as well as towards Rustaveli Avenue from Lesia Ukrainka, Jorjadze, Chichinadze, April 9, Purtseladze and Gudiashvili streets.

The City Hall said with the Christmas marchers going in the direction of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Baratashvili Bridge, Baratashvili ascent and Avlabari Square would be closed in sequence and the vehicles heading to the Freedom Square would be diverted to the right bank of the River Mtkvari and Kote Apkhazi Street.

For motorists driving towards Avlabari, the traffic will be allowed through the dry bridge, Khetagurov Street and the left bank of the River Mtkvari.

During the restriction of movement on Avlabari Square, vehicles from Ketevan Dedofali Avenue can drive along Bochorma and Ialbuzi streets, and then towards the left bank of the Mtkvari River.

Public transport routes will also be affected, with the N308 bus connecting to Baratashvili Street from Galaktion Bridge through the right bank of the River Mtkvari, Bus N359 being redirected from Javakhishvili Street towards Kostava Street and then through Melikishvili Avenue. 

The minibus N457 will move from Javakhishvili Street to Tabukashvili Street, connecting Lagidze Street with Rustaveli Avenue.

Traffic will be fully restored after the competition of the traditional Christmas march, the City Hall added.