Kazakhstan, Astana, Nov.7 / Trend, A. Maratov /
It is planned to lay 750 km of new "Western Europe - Western China" highway in Kazakhstan by late 2011, Zamir Saginov, chairman of the Committee for Highways at the Transport and Communications Ministry said.
"By the end of this year it is planned to lay a 750-km new highway Western Europe - Western China, 326 km of which is the first phase and 424 km is the second phase," Saginov said speaking at a conference call on the implementation of the project.
He said that in 2011, the total budget of nationally important road development hit around 190 billion. tenge ($1 - 148 tenge), 158 billion tenge of which is allocated for the construction and reconstruction, while 32 billion tenge for major, medium, current repairs and maintenance. The main funding within the funds allocated for construction and reconstruction is the Western Europe-Western China project costing 117 billion tenge or 75 per cent.
"Construction work has been carried out on 1715 km in four areas by 21 contract companies," Mr. Saginov said.
He said most operations have been conducted in accordance with the approved schedule, but at the same time there have been problems with some contractors which hampered the construction work earlier this year. The companies involved are: on the Kyzylorda region - company Impreza (Italy), Accord / Okan (Azerbaijan / Turkey), on the South Kazakhstan region - Kukdong (South Korea), on the Zhambyl - KCC (South Korea).
Simultaneously, competitive tenders are underway to select contractors for three sections running to a length of 82 km.
According to the ministry's press service, the project involves more than 6000 units of road-building machinery, as well as 35, 000 people, of which 34,000 are Kazakh staff and 615 foreign staff.
One of the largest road corridors,, the Western Europe - Western China will pass through St. Petersburg - Moscow-Kazan- Orenburg - Aktobe - Kyzylorda - Shymkent - Taraz - Kordai - Almaty - Khorgos - Urumqi - Lianyungang ,running to 8445 km, including across Kazakhstan - 2,787 km, the Russian Federation - 2,233 km and the People's Republic of China - 3,425 km. The project will be completed in 2013.