Infrastructure Minister announces Zestaponi bypass road in western Georgia to open in May

Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Thursday said a four-lane Zestaponi bypass road in the western region of Imereti would be opened to traffic in May.

The opening of the Zestafoni bypass road will significantly contribute to both comfortable and smooth traffic and increasing road safety standards”, the Minister said.

The bypass road will connect to the East-West Highway at the Argveta junction, allowing drivers currently passing through Zestaponi to circumvent the city.

Karseladze also announced plans to set up areas adjacent to the road for sale of “traditional products”, such as craft items, that are currently sold by locals in unorganised spots along highways.

The construction of the Shorapani-Argveta section of Rikoti Pass - a major crossing between eastern and western parts of the country - is in the “final phase”, the official also said, with all 10 tunnels involved in the project paved. The Minister added 15 out of 17 bridges in the works had been built, and coils were being set up on two of them. 

Up to 52 km of roads, 97 bridges and 51 tunnels are being built as part of the Rikoti project, with 50 tunnels already dug and the work underway for the final construction, the Ministry said. Of the overall number of tunnels, 38 are already operational, while 89 of the bridges have been built and 65 made operational.

The total cost of the projects, which are set to be completed this year, is ₾2.6 billion ($981million).