Additional funding for Kobuleti bypass road secured

The Asian Development Bank will allocate additional funding for the construction of the Kobuleti bypass road.

An agreement on the project's financing was signed by the Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank, Xiaoyu Zhao and the Minister of Finance of Georgia, Dmitry Gvindadze in Kobuleti. The signing ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Ramaz Nikolaishvili.

The Kobuleti bypass road is a segment of the larger Adjara bypass road, to be paved with an asphalt-concrete cover and include rail crossings, three transportation nodes, five bridges, and five passages through a dry ravine. The road will be begun near Natanebi, passing through 20 villages and ending in Makhinjauri.

The first stage of construction, including 12.4 kilometres near Kobuleti and the modernization of three kilometres between Chakvi and Makhindjauri, is currently underway. Two-lane highways are being converted into four-lane freeways. However, additional funding is necessary to complete construction.

The Kobuleti bypass is necessary to unload through traffic from the resort town of Kobuleti, easing movement of travellers, encouraging investment, and improving the environment. Almost 1000 people are employed on the project both directly and indirectly, and 70% of them are local residents. (MRDI)