Today, Deputy Chairman of Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Irakli Litanishvili, Mtskheta-Mtianeti majoritarian Member of Parliament Zakaria Kutsnashvili and representatives of local self-government visited Sasadilo –Sioni road to assess the projects implemented in the region. Rehabilitation works are now at the completion stage.

Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia is implementing the works for rehabilitation of 17 km section of Sasadio-Sioni road, 3.5 km of Sasadio-Orkhevi-Khevsurtsopeli road and 2 km section of Orkhevi-Sioni road under the World Bank financed Kakheti Regional Roads Improvement Project and Third Secondary and Local Roads Project (SLRP-III).

Rehabilitation of Sasadilo-Sioni 17 km section and 4 bridges and construction of 1 bridge under Kakheti Regional Roads Improvement Project is at the completion stage. Concrete pavement, culverts, drainage systems, junctions, shoulders and entrances to private yards have been constructed. Implementation of the project commenced in January 2014 and its cost is GEL 7920000.  177 people were employer for works, out of which 96 are local residents. Rehabilitated road will improve connection between Tianeti (Sioni) and Kakheti (Sasadilo) regions. Section to be rehabilitated passes through five villages: Sasadilo, Kochobani, Bochorma, Kudro, Orkhevi and Sioni.

Mentioned project was a pilot project covering design and rehabilitation works to be carried out simultaneously to optimize the time. The contract is based on main concept of Output and Performance Based Road Contract (OPBC), which considers provision of integrated services under 5 year road maintenance contract. Based on OPRC the company undertakes an obligation to perform repair works for the whole road, including its further maintenance.

Rehabilitation works for secondary Sasadilo-Orkhevi-Khevsurtsopeli 3.5 km section, Orkhevi-Sioni 2 km section and existing bridge were implemented under SLRP-III. Rehabilitation works covered construction of road pavement, drainage system and culverts. Junctions, entrances to private yards and shoulders were also constructed and horizontal marking of road was done. Cost of the project amounts to GEL 2.2 mln. 80 people were employed for the works, out of which 25 are local residents.

Rehabilitation of road will solve movement problems for 24 villages and about 4000 local population. Mentioned roads are the shortest route to tourist and recreation sites – to Sioni, also to Bochorma castle and St. George church of XII century. The road provides connection between Sagarejo and Tianeti regions. Mentioned sections, beside its tourist importance, are also used for agricultural and industrial activity. This road is used by both local residents and tourists.