"Despite a number of challenges, including landslides, this year we managed to arrange asphalt pavement on the road up to 10 km from both Khulo and Zarzma sides. We have made good progress with artificial structures, which creates the conditions for the project to be completed next year and the most important road from Khulo-Zarzma, provided with asphalt, to be put into operation," said the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Irakli Karseladze, while inspecting the ongoing works on the road from Khulo-Zarzma.

The Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Irakli Karseladze, the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Tornike Rizhvadze, and the State Trustee in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Besik Amiranashvili, visited the reconstruction works of the Khulo-Zarzma section of the Batumi-Akhaltsikhe road connecting the two regions.

According to Tornike Rizhvadze, the project is historic, which will create great opportunities for the population of both the mountainous Adjara and the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

According to Besik Amiranashvili, works are actively being carried out on the Adigeni side. Construction of up to 5 km of road has already been completed and the works will continue according to climatic conditions. According to him, the Khulo-Zarzma road will create new opportunities for the population of both regions from the economic point of view and will make the regions even more touristy.

The rehabilitation-reconstruction project of the 47 km long road is divided into 3 sections, where, in total, 2 lanes of asphalt-concrete pavement will be laid. At this stage, on the first and second sections, 42 km in total, asphalt-concrete paving, bridges and other artificial structures are being constructed. The total cost of the planned works on these sections exceeds 95.6 million GEL. The work on the second section is planned to be completed by the end of the year, and the construction of the entire 47 km road is planned to be completed by 2023.

The renovated Khulo-Zarzma road will connect Samtskhe-Javakheti and Adjara in the shortest way. The road passes through difficult geographical and geological terrain. Its rehabilitation and reconstruction will contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic condition of the population of the two regions. The renovated road will connect the Besumi mountain-ski resort with Batumi and Tbilisi, which will contribute to the development of tourism.

The works on the first section of the Khulo-Zarzma road are being carried out with the support of the Kuwait Foundation, and on the second and third sections, they are being financed by the state budget.