The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million loan to support the construction of a strategically important bypass road around Tbilisi, which will improve transport connectivity, reduce road congestion, and strengthen Georgia's role as a regional transport hub.
The project involves the construction of an 18.9-kilometer, four-lane section of the Tbilisi bypass road, which will become a key part of the modernization of the East-West Highway. Redirecting traffic away from the capital will reduce the burden on Tbilisi's road network and improve the movement of goods and passengers.
ADB financing will be used for the construction of two sections of the Tbilisi bypass: Tbilisi Airport - Lochini (Lot 4) and Lochini - Rustavi (Lot 5). The project also includes the construction and modernization of access and service roads.
"The Tbilisi bypass road will help fully realize this potential by reducing road congestion and increasing the efficiency of freight transport. Through such projects, we are realizing the strategic vision of our partnership with Georgia, aimed at making the country more connected and competitive," said Leslie Bearman Lamm, Director of ADB's Permanent Mission in Georgia.
According to ADB, the new road will reduce travel time for both local and transit traffic, lower vehicle operating costs, and reduce harmful emissions. The project will enhance the reliability of freight transport, export supplies, and the tourism sector, and will also reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries from road accidents.
Furthermore, the project will increase the efficiency of road transport along the second corridor of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program, which connects Central Asia with Europe and is one of the most important trade routes. This will help attract investment to Georgia and further integrate the country into regional and global markets.
ADB also assisted the Georgian government in conducting technical, economic, financial, environmental, and social assessments of the project's sustainability.
The approved loan complements ADB's existing support for the development of Georgia's road infrastructure, which totals over $2.3 billion. This includes projects for the construction and modernization of sections of the East-West Highway, the Kobuleti and Batumi bypass roads, the Kvesheti-Kobi highway, and the Batumi-Sarpi road.
ADB has been a partner of Georgia since 2007 and is one of the country's largest multilateral development institutions. Since Georgia joined the bank, the total amount of loans, grants, and technical assistance provided has reached nearly $6 billion.