The goal of the Kvesheti-Kobi road project is to improve the situation in the region and make it possible to move continuously and safely at any time of the year. The new way will reduce travel time and costs, improve traffic safety, increase Georgia’s transit potential and develop tourism in various directions.
Within the framework of the project it’s planned to construct 23 km long, 2-lane asphalt-concrete road, 5 bridges and 5 tunnels. The project also includes repair and rehabilitation of 1 bridge. Pedestrian crossings, pedestrian paths and pedestrian / cattle crossings will be arranged as well.
The project is commissioned by the Roads Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure. Its total value is 1.240 billion Lari. The construction is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The construction process is monitored by the international supervisory company UBM INTERNATIONAL UNITED CONSULTANTS INC.
The total length of the new Kvesheti-Kobi road will be reduced by 11 km and travel time will be 15 minutes instead of 1 hour. The infrastructure will be improved and driving for any type of car will be safe at any time of the year. The new road makes it possible to avoid danger caused by bad weather, avalanches and heavy snow.
Due to difficult climate and geographical conditions, locals are cut off from the outside world for almost 100 days a year and have no access to social services. The new road will improve their living conditions, make it easier to connect with the outside world and give them access to all kinds of services. The project will also contribute to the development of tourism in various directions and increase transit potential of Georgia.
Kvesheti-Kobi road project is divided into 2 lots.
The construction of the first lot – 9 km long tunnel is carried out by China Railway Tunnel Group Co., Ltd. (CRTG); The construction of the second lot – the access road section is carried out by China Railway 23rd Bureau Group Co;
Procurement of construction works for both lots of Kvesheti-Kobi was carried out in accordance with all international procurement rules, in accordance with the Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers developed by the Asian Development Bank. The winners of both lots were the companies with the lowest price, meeting all the qualification requirements of the tender.
The construction process is monitored by UBM INTERNATIONAL UNITED CONSULTANTS INC.
In order to avoid any impact on the local population, the environment and the cultural heritage sites in the valley during the construction of the road, a Tunnel Boring Machine TBM was made in China specifically for this project. This machine is used for building the largest tunnel of the project which is 9 km long and 15 m in diameter. TBM is the most modern, sophisticated method with minimal noise and therefore has the least impact on the environment as the vibration is minimized.
The contractor construction company is required to develop a site-specific environmental management plan. The contractor will constantly monitor the process and if the vibration or noise level exceeds the standard, mitigation measures will be taken, for example, reducing the impact of noise and vibration using various equipment or working methods.
In order to reduce the negative impact on the local population, construction camps will be moved away from the settlement according to the environmental protection standards of Georgia.
When building small tunnels, open tunneling and drilling-blasting methods will be used. The detailed methodology will be defined and chosen on site to minimize the impact on the natural and social environment.
