A contract has been signed with the winner company of international tender announced for the upgrade of the second section of the Zemo Osiauri-Chumateleti road, a part of East-West E60 highway. The contract has been signed by the Deputy Chairman of Roads Department of Georgia Alexander Tevdoradze and a representative of the company Sinohydro He Pen. The mentioned section envisages construction of a 4-lane 6.4km road, 11 bridges and 5 tunnels. The project, worth GEL 264 992 488 is financed by the World Bank.

The second section of the Zemo Osiauri-Chumateteli road is a continuation of the already set into operation 13 km Khashuri bypass road, which includes the first section of the Zemo Osiauri-Chumateleti road. The Khashuri bypass road has significantly relieved the city of Khashuri from traffic jams, and the transit traffic is fully implemented on the new road. Travel time via Khashuri bypass road has been reduced by 40-50% and it is possible to pass this road in 10 minutes instead of 20 minutes.

Through the second section of Zemo Osiauri-Chumateleti, drivers will detour Surami and Chumateleti from North and exit at Rikoti tunnel. The mentioned section will connect Khashuri bypass road to Rikoti pass road.

Overall Zemo Osiauri-Chumateleti road envisages construction of 14km 4-lane concrete-cement road, 21 bridges, 5 tunnels, reinforced-concrete underground passages.

The project will shrink shipping costs and contribute to increase of transit traffic. Travel time from Tbilisi to Rikoti tunnel will be reduced by 30 minutes, road capacity will be increased by 4 times, and the road will be built in conformance with international and safety standards.