President Aliyev welcomes completion of strategic Ahmadbayli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway PHOTO / UPDATED

On July 3, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan attended the inauguration of the new Ahmadbayli-Fuzuli-Shusha road.

The event was officially announced on the president’s website, Caliber.Az reports.

During the ceremony, Saleh Mammadov, head of the State Agency for Automobile Roads, provided President Aliyev with a detailed update on the progress and completion of the project.

The newly constructed highway spans 81.7 kilometres, shortening the previous route by 19.3 kilometres from the original 101 kilometres. Built to first-class technical standards, the highway’s initial 48 kilometres feature six lanes, while the remaining 33.7 kilometres consist of four lanes. This comprehensive infrastructure project includes one interchange, 11 bridges, seven tunnels, six viaducts, underpasses, and other essential facilities. The total length of all bridges combined reaches 1,557 meters.

A notable engineering milestone was achieved through the use of the horizontal sliding formwork method for concrete work on some viaducts — a first in Azerbaijan. The road is equipped with reinforced concrete and metal guardrails, along with a complete lighting system to ensure safety and visibility.

The Ahmadbayli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway begins from the Hajigabul-Horadiz-Aghband-Zangezur corridor highway and links the cities of Fuzuli, Khojavend, Khojaly, and Shusha.

Developed under the “First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” this highway plays a strategic role in diversifying the national road network and enhancing connectivity between the region and other parts of the country. Furthermore, it constitutes a crucial segment of international transport corridors traversing Azerbaijan. The highway is also anticipated to provide a significant boost to tourism and economic growth in the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova