First Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Chairman of Roads Department - Irakli Karseladze submitted the report at Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace Hotel on the 6-month activities carried out by Roads Department and spoke about the department’s priorities.

‘’These 6 months have been impressive. The construction of highways is the top priority and East-West highway represents the main challenge for us. The route starting from Red Bridge to Sarpi is 430km. By this time, 200km of highway has constructed while the 140 km is under construction. This year, works have started on such an important project as Rikoti Pass section. At present, the works are being carried out simultaneously on two sections of Khevi-Ubisa and Ubisa-Shorapani. The agreement will be signed on the first, Chumateleti-Khevi section, the bids on the forth, Shorapani-Argveta section will be opened in August and the agreement will be made by the end of 2019. As for the Red Bridge section, the bidding documents are currently in preparation, while the intensive design works at Batumi-Sarpi section is in progress.

Different sections of the highway will be come into operation step by step in 2020-2022 and we are already planning the construction works to commence at Batumi-Sarpi section in 2021.

Finally, the movement from Red Bridge to Sarpi will last 4-4.5 hours. It means that the existed distance will be reduced by 30km. Travel time from Red Bridge to Sarpi will be halved in the safe traffic conditions’’- Irakli Karseladze noted.

Rikoti Pass Road is 51km in total and is considered to be one of the most complicated sections, including 96 bridges and 53 tunnels that provide the arrangement of 4-lane highway. The modernization of Rikoti Pass section is significant for the development of the road network and its compliance with the modern standards.