Georgian Infrastructure Minister highlights “unprecedented, challenging” Rikoti Highway project

Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Tuesday emphasised the “unprecedented” nature of the Rikoti Highway project, which forms the part of the strategic East-West road route across this country, and highlighted engineering and geological challenges of building the section.

In comments for the opening of a 12-km section of the 48-km, four-lane Highway, Karseladze said it was “recognised as the most challenging part of the East-West Highway, adding only the construction of a “new, modern-standard highway” could “meet the necessary requirements and resolve all challenges”.

The Minister added about 400 Georgian and “many” international specialists were involved in the construction in planning, design, construction and supervision, including engineers, geologists, geotechnicians, environmentalists, quality control, road safety and labour safety experts.

He also emphasised the contribution of Georgian  companies and individuals involved in the effort, saying the experience gained during the construction would ensure they would be “even more actively involved in other ongoing and future projects”.

Within the project, a total of 52 kilometres of the four-lane highway, 51 tunnels and 97 bridges are set to be built, with a 48-km stretch already open to traffic, Karelands said.

Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure

The building of the Highway is financed through loans from the Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and World Bank, along with contributions from the state budget.

The total cost of the project is about ₾2.6 billion ($0.95bln).