Construction of a major section of Georgia’s East-West Highway — the new Batumi-Sarpi road — is set to begin after the relevant construction contract was signed for the 11.3-kilometer highway section.

The contract was signed between the Roads Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Infrastructure and China Railway Tunnel Group Co. Ltd. (CRTG), the winner of an international tender.

The new Batumi-Sarpi road will be the westernmost section of Georgia’s East-West Highway corridor. It will connect the Batumi Bypass Highway with the Georgia-Turkey state border and form an important part of the international transport route linking Europe and Asia through Georgia.

The East-West Highway is one of the main transport arteries of the Middle Corridor. The Red Bridge-Tbilisi-Sarpi route, together with Georgia’s Black Sea ports and land borders, plays an important role in the transit network connecting Europe and Asia. Accordingly, the development of the highway will increase Georgia’s transit capacity and strengthen the country’s transport links with the Black Sea, South Caucasus, Turkey and Europe.

The Batumi-Sarpi project includes the construction of an 11.3-kilometer, two-lane highway, a 7.6-kilometer tunnel and three bridges, including a 1.47-kilometer bridge. The project will also include the construction of a 500-meter coastal protection structure.

At 7.6 kilometers, the Batumi-Sarpi tunnel will be Georgia’s second-longest road tunnel after the 9-kilometer main tunnel on the Kvesheti-Kobi road.

The new road will connect directly to the Batumi Bypass Highway. As a result, international and transit traffic will be diverted from Adjara’s densely populated and resort coastline to the new road. This is expected to significantly reduce congestion on the existing road and in the resort area, improve road safety and facilitate travel for local residents and tourists, as well as international transit freight.

The project is scheduled to be completed within 48 months of the start of construction. The contract is valued at GEL 809,009,547.18. The project will be financed through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with co-financing from Georgia’s state budget.

Construction of the Batumi-Sarpi section is part of the broader development of the East-West E60-E70 motorway. Of the highway’s total 428.35 kilometers, 324.75 kilometers have already been opened to traffic.

The full development of the East-West Highway is expected to increase road capacity and Georgia’s transit potential, reduce travel times, improve road safety and create modern road infrastructure for international freight transportation.