Georgia completes new tunnel to Russian border

Georgia has recently completed the construction of a new tunnel near the border with Russia as part of a major infrastructure project.

Caliber.Az reports citing the Roads Department of Georgia's Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure that the initiative includes the establishment of a bypass route to the Upper Lars International Automobile Crossing Point (IACP).

The project's first phase involved finishing a 9-kilometre tunnel under Cross Pass, the longest in the region. This tunnel, boasting three lanes and a 15-meter diameter, incorporates evacuation exits to ensure continuous traffic flow in both directions, particularly in avalanche-prone areas of the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Lars (Gudauri-Kobi) motorway.

Additionally, the project entails the construction of a 23-kilometre, two-lane asphalt road featuring five bridges, with one bridge set to undergo repair. Phase two will see the creation of a 1.5-kilometre tunnel, the lengthiest of four planned for this section.

The primary goal of these developments is to facilitate uninterrupted access to the Upper Lars IACP, minimizing seasonal road closures that currently impede heavy truck traffic for about 90 days per year. The new infrastructure is expected to reduce the travel distance between Tbilisi and Stepantsminda by 11 kilometres, thereby cutting travel times.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2025.