“Regardless of the challenges caused by the global pandemic, 2020 has been a distinguished year,” says Irakli Karseladze, Chairman of the Roads Department of Georgia, while summarizing the year 2020, adding that in accordance to original plan, 70km long highways have been constructed, which is beyond comparison. 13km long Khashuri bypass road, Kutaisi bypass road as well as Japana-Lanchkhuti 14km long road has been opened during 2020.

“Needless to say, that active works continue on all highway projects, these works are already provided in the 2021 budget,” the Chairman noted.

Rehabilitation and periodic maintenance of 570km long road has been conducted despite the pandemic, under which the works on the highways and the platform projects have not been suspended for a single day.

Construction of the project of the century – Rikoti – is actively progressing. The project envisages construction of 51km long 53 tunnels and 96 bridges. At the moment, the works are underway on 39 tunnels and 53 bridges, out of which 5 tunnels have already been excavated. As a result, the progress of the project is quite promising. Clearly, further progress was planned, but the pandemic did carried its impact. Nevertheless, the works have not stopped and by 2021 this progress is expected to be much more intensive and a turning point for the projects.

The Chairman also distinguished Kvesheti-Kobi project that was slightly hindered by the pandemic in terms of the commencement of mobilization and construction works. Nonetheless, Kvesheti-Kobi project can be claimed to be commenced and 2021 will be significant for its development. A tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be arrived for boring 9km long tunnel. This tunnel is truly unparalleled both in the Caucasus region and around the world, there are not many such large-scale tunnels and among them a seat of honor will be taken by the Kvesti-Kobi tunnel.

Development of mountainous roads project will carry forward in 2021. The construction-reconstruction of the Imereti-Racha connecting road will be completed in 2021. Active works in the direction of Baghdati-Abastumani will also continue. Rehabilitation of the road in the direction of Shatili has already been completed and in 2021 the rehabilitation of the bridges will be completed.

Around 10, 000 workers were employed during 2020 for the implementation of the projects of the Department. More than a half of these workers were engaged in the development of highways, even though the projects are implemented by international companies, as the figure shown above, involvement of local workforce is quite high. The first 35km long Tbilisi-Sagarejo road, financed from the State Budget will be commenced in 2021. The project is of significant importance for the region.

Roads Department was actively assisting upgrade of streets of various regions. A total of 113 streets in Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Poti will be rehabilitated, out of them 40 are already completed and the remaining ones will be finished in 2021.

As Karseladze pointed out, GEL 1 billion 315 million was the 2020 budget approved in December 2019, this is the budget approved before COVID-19, and in relation to this figure, over 112% has already been fulfilled.

“The Department has overrun the budget projected before the Covid-19. Naturally, considering the global pandemic, the corrections were made and the percentage of overrun is higher. We can state with confidence that due to our efforts, all the highway projects were not suspended and all the implemented projects were successful, in cooperation with our contractor companies and supervising organizations.  So far, 2020 budget was overrun by GEL 80-85 million and an upcoming year shall be even more promising,” said Irakli Karseladze, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Chairman of Roads Department.