Assembly of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) entered its final phase and a test run of the machine was successfully completed in the last quarter. The machine is located near the village of Kobi where the main tunnel excavation will start. The TBM is one of the most sophisticated tunnelling machines in the world and was made especially for the construction of the largest tunnel in Georgia, which will measure 9 km long and 15 meters in diameter. The machine enables the excavation of the tunnel and its concrete cladding simultaneously, which significantly speeds up construction and increases safety standards. The machine minimizes vibrations which ensures a safe construction process and reduced environmental impact.

The machine arrived in Poti in January 2021 in several parts distributed in 190 containers. Transportation to the project area began in May following the re-opening of the Kobi-Gudauri section of road. Highly qualified personnel ensured the safe transportation of the machine to the project site including transportation at night. “In order to build this unique tunnel, the main parts of the TBM arrived in Poti by ship in January” said Irakli Karseladze, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure. “Despite the challenges associated with transporting the machine, all possible methods were used and the construction part of the TBM can be said to be already assembled.”

China Railway Tunnel Group (CRTG), one of the largest engineering companies specializing in the construction of tunnels and boring machines, is constructing the main tunnel of the new road. The company has implemented several projects around the world and has successfully constructed up to 600 highway tunnels. CRTG has many years of experience working with tunneling equipment including deploying TBMs on all five continents.

On 8 September, a company was selected to develop a historic-cultural reference plan for the Khada Valley. GeoGraphic, which provides geospatial solutions including mapping and urban planning in Georgia, was appointed by ADB to prepare the plan which will be delivered by February 2022.

GeoGraphic will conduct a detailed assessment of the area from the cultural heritage point of view and develop recommendations in line with Georgia’s laws and regulations while considering international best practice. The plan will inform the preparation of the Khada Valley Development Plan and directly address the concerns identified in the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment to minimize impacts and the potential for uncontrolled development after the road is constructed.

The historic-cultural reference plan will build on the cultural heritage assessment reports prepared under the project as well as data available at the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia (NACHP).

On 10 September, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili inaugurated the beginning of the 9km tunnel boring works at the Kvesheti–Kobi Road project together with Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Irakli Karseladze and ADB Country Director for Georgia Shane Rosenthal.

Prime Minister Garibashvili highlighted the economic importance of the project which will open opportunities to the Khada Valley and improve cargo movement through Georgia.

Davit Lomitashvili is Deputy Director of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection (NACHP) and professor at Winchester University, UK. NACHP is responsible for the preservation, protection, research, and promotion of cultural heritage in Georgia.

What is NACHP’s role on the Kvesheti-Kobi road project?

About 18 months ago, NACHP and the Roads Department of Georgia (RD) started negotiations on a very important project – the Khada Valley cultural heritage research. The project consisted of several stages. First stage focused on exploration and research of the cultural heritage units. This was a massive project involving about 70 people from the agency including lawyers. As a result, our country’s cultural heritage is now properly taken care of and these entities are no longer in danger.

What kind of work has the agency undertaken so far?

According to the principles of law and archeology, first we undertake the exploration of the area and then we start on-site archeological works at the selected locations. This covers complete photo and graphic documentation of the units. NACHP and RD staff including myself, walked across the whole project area several times including going to the risky places. We’ve been to all inaccessible points. We marked 9 sites where subsequent archeological works have since been done. This was followed by a special lab-based restorative treatment of the archeological materials before they can appear in a museum. We then prepared two reports – first a technical one and then a broad/extensive report which is a complete scientific report addressing all questions of chronology, the cultural heritage objects and monuments on sites.

The archeological works on these nine locations clarified how to approach all risky places. We made recommendations for four archeological sites. We made a few corrections at the project sites where possible. This was a very dynamic process and NACHP and RD worked day and night to find solutions. As a result, we managed to avoid hindering the project while fully protecting the cultural heritage. Today this section of Kvesheti-Kobi road has been secured from all sides and is protected according to 21st century standards.

What are the major findings from the work done to date?

We gathered very interesting findings in terms of chronology. In the nine locations, the earliest artifacts are from the late Bronze Age, which for me as an archeologist was quite a surprise. These are all gradually revealed in cultural layers as the site is dug up. Immovable cultural heritage such as castles and other monuments that can’t be moved, are only from late Middle Ages. The late Bronze Age site is not huge, but it definitely shows signs of settlements. These places are now “sterile”. This means the site has been thoroughly investigated. According to the law and archeology, once we excavate a site, if we find some artifacts, these are taken away before the road works are allowed to continue. This does not apply to places that contain immovable heritage, for example where monuments are erected above ground. As soon as we have the broad/extensive report published, more information will be available for the public.

What happens next?

This project enabled very fruitful cooperation between NACHP and RD. We are now considering creating mobile groups within the agency, who will work with the RD on future projects to ensure cultural heritage is properly considered during infrastructure works. As a result of the Khada Valley research, we discovered and will rehabilitate a very typical Khada Valley tower, called “backed” tower. I can image how many people will stop their vehicles to visit the amazing culture that the Khada Valley people created. And this “backed” tower is not the only one – there are 213 cultural heritage objects listed on the site, some of which will receive cultural heritage status. The state will take responsibility on some of the monuments, according to the care they need.

If during the road works, traces of cultural heritage are discovered, the law obliges the construction company to stop work in that location and the agency will instantly start researching the area. I think the country will see huge benefits from this NACHP-RD cooperation. On one hand we’ll have remarkable road infrastructure and on the other hand, we will have well cared for and protected cultural heritage.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, construction work continued actively in the past three months with all COVID-19 regulations followed to ensure the health and safety of employees and communities.

By this time, the TBM has started drilling a tunnel on the northern portal, in the village of Kobi. At the same time The evacuation tunnel was being excavated and ancillary works were being carried out. Currently, the works carried out in the evacuation tunnel reach 2 km.

No significant additional effects on air quality and noise are expected other than increased quantities of excavated material disposal near the riverbed on the North Portal near Kobi Village. On the South portal near Tskere Village, substantial effect on air quality, vibration and noise are expected when the excavation and support works commence on the emergency tunnel in Q4 2021.

Construction work was underway at Lot 2 in the past three months. Structural works for the underpass at Km 0.7 near Kvesheti Village have almost been completed while the pile works for Bridge 2, which is located over the Aragvi River near Arakhveti Village have been continued.

The slope protection works of the entrance portal near Arakhveti Village and the exit portal on Didveli Plateau for the first tunnel have been completed and drilling for the tunnel works will continue from the entrance and exit portal simultaneously. The embankment of the road near the Kvesheti Village has also started for the bypass road near the riverside.

As there will be additional noise during the earthworks for the embankment, tunnel drilling and piling works construction near Kvesheti and Arakhveti Villages, activity hours shall be arranged not to disturb residents.

For the cantilever retaining wall construction at Km 2.2 between Kvesheti and Arakhveti Villages, a temporary road diversion is being planned, which will disrupt traffic on the existing road.

The slope protection works for the exit portal of Tunnel 3 has already started. The drilling activity for the Tunnel 3 from the exit portal is also planned which is nearby Sviani–Rostiani Village. The additional noise and negative effects on the air quality nearby shall be mitigated by arranging working hours and extensive watering during dry season.

More Georgian residents have been employed directly by the project this quarter, up to a total of 255 (240 male and 15 female). These include 125 (116 male and 9 female) hires from the local area on Lot 1 and 50 (42 male and 8 female) local hires on Lot 2. In total, around 26% of all project employees (175 people) are local hires employed directly from the project area.

The Project continues to create a variety of direct employment opportunities for the local population. Priority is given to hiring people from the project affected communities.

Information on vacancies is communicated to the locals through group meetings and by posting announcements in communities near the project. Vacancies are also posted on the Facebook page and the project website. In September, 35 positions were announced including 30 unskilled workers and 5 welders. Project employees are provided with skills training including occupational health and safety, waste management, firefighting and first aid training among others. These aim to raise the skill levels of local employees to international standards and allow for long-term skill enhancement.

The project also creates indirect job and procurement opportunities by employing local suppliers, businesses, and service providers which benefits local and regional employment.

An information booth has been built and installed in Kvesheti along the existing road. The booth will be staffed during opening hours by the project’s community liaison officers and hosts physical and digital information for local affected people to visit and learn more about the project.