BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 16
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
The Roads Department of Georgia has signed an agreement with Guizhou Highway Engineering Group and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation for the construction of the fourth section of the Rikoti Pass, Trend reports referring to the department.
Rikoti Pass is a mountain pass which divides Georgia into its eastern and western parts.
Shorapani-Argveta section is a 14.7-kilometer section which will be constructed by funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The bank has allocated 582.8 million lari ($201.9 million) for the project.
As reported, the construction of four roads, 14 bridges and 12 tunnels is planned.
“The 14.7-kilometer Shorapani-Argveta section will make it easier for transport to move along the mountainous parts of the road,” said the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Georgia.
Over 5,000 people will be employed in the reconstruction work of the Rikoti Pass overall.
The traveling time will be halved between the Red Bridge (a crossing point between Georgia and Azerbaijan on the Tbilisi-Ganja road) and Sarpi (in the south-west of Georgia, on the border with Turkey), from 8 hours to 4-4.5 hours.
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