At the request of the Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, initial research works are already underway to determine the causes of damage to the road bridge under construction that is part of the Samtredia-Grigoleti main road.

A road bridge over the Rioni River is being built within the framework of the Samtredia-Grigoleti road project. One of the piers of the bridge was damaged on February 21, 2023, which caused the collapse of two bridge girders.

In order to determine the causes of damage to the bridge, at the request of the Roads Department, the National Bureau of Forensic Expertise named after Levan Samkharauli started a complex study.

At this stage, it has already become possible to visually inspect the bridge by scuba diving, scan its structural part, conduct bathymetric research, i.e. study the water depth and bottom, the bridge structure and foundations, and drilling works.

Research works will continue actively. Various types of research and tests will be conducted, based on the analysis of which, specific causes of bridge damage will be determined.

After drawing up the final conclusion, the measures necessary for the restoration of the bridge and the continuation of the work will be determined. The investigative bodies will make a legal assessment of the case.

The construction of the 11.5 km section (I) of Samtredia-Grigoleti is in the final stage. This section bypasses the city of Samtredia and 4 villages of Samtredia and Abasha municipalities (Tolebi, Gormaghala, First May, Gautsinari). The works are financed from the state budget.