Azerbaijan builds mountain highway in East Zangezur to unite Kalbajar, Lachin Video

The construction of the Kalbajar–Lachin highway in East Zangezur is advancing steadily, featuring extensive engineering works such as the development of multiple tunnels to navigate the region's challenging mountainous terrain.

The total length of the highway is expected to be 76.3 kilometres, Caliber.Az reports.

Plans for the route include the construction of nine road bridges with a combined length of 1,038 metres and eleven tunnels.

The route begins in the village of Gamishli in the Kalbajar District and continues through the Lachin District. Once completed, the highway is set to improve access to numerous settlements in the region, as well as to the district centres.

It will also provide a direct approach to the Lachin International Airport, which is currently under development. The project is considered a key component of infrastructure development in the liberated territories.

To recall, the Kalbajar–Lachin region in western Azerbaijan holds strategic, historical, and economic importance. During the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s, Armenian forces occupied both districts. Kalbajar fell in April 1993, followed by Lachin, creating a land corridor between Armenia and Karabakh. The occupation led to the displacement of tens of thousands of  Azerbaijanis.

In November 2020, a 44-day war resulted in Armenia withdrawing from Kalbajar, Lachin, and other adjacent territories. Kalbajar was returned to Azerbaijani control on November 25, 2020, followed by Lachin. The handover was part of a trilateral agreement between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia.

Since the return, Azerbaijan has launched major reconstruction initiatives. The Great Return programme aims to rebuild infrastructure and resettle displaced populations. A key part of this effort is the construction of the Kalbajar–Lachin highway, a 75.8 km road with 17 tunnels and 23 bridges, designed to connect the mountainous districts and stimulate economic activity. The project is due for completion by 2025.

Another major development is the Lachin International Airport, under construction at an altitude of 1,800 metres. Once operational, it will improve access to the region and support both civilian and logistical transport. The government has also built new military bases to ensure the region’s security.

By Aghakazim Guliyev