I would like to thank Irakli Karseladze, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, for his tireless, hard work. The plans pitched by him are already in the making. And the biggest news is the upcoming construction of a full four-lane highway, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said during today's opening of a new 15-kilometer section (Gurjaani Bypass) along the Bakurtsikhe-Telavi-Akhmeta Highway.
According to the Head of Government, 2 billion GEL in all will be spent on infrastructural and road construction in Kakheti.
"In addition, we will ensure internal road maintenance, a task not covered by this budget. In fact, the entire landscape and road scenery is about to change in Kakheti, one of the most impressive regions. Every other, if not every, tourist comes to Kakheti, the reason why our Government pays special attention to the development of road infrastructure. Once again, I would like to thank our donor for financing this exceptional project. In general, almost 32 billion GEL will be spent nationwide on the projects under our 10-Year Plan, including on road construction, to change the country's outlook dramatically. Movement will become easier for both our population and tourists, and it will be, in fact, a brand-new country. European standards will be adopted in every region and municipality. Once again, special thanks to Irakli Karseladze and his team for their hard work," the Prime Minister said.
According to the Head of Government, new European-style centers will be set up in every municipality, including in Gurjaani. Relevant work, scheduled to commence within the next 2 weeks, will cost 500 million GEL.
"Under our new initiative, Irakli Karseladze and his team have already finalized their work, meaning the launch of urban renovation projects in every municipality. We already had initial discussions. I attended presentations. New European-style centers will be set up in every municipality, including in Gurjaani. Relevant work, scheduled to commence within the next 2 weeks, will cost 500 million GEL. Urban renovation plans will continue in the years to come, and we must deliver new building efforts and new standards, European standards, to every village," Irakli Garibashvili stated.
Black Sea Group briefed the Prime Minister on implemented work. Garibashvili thanked the construction company for successfully finalizing the project.
"We must implement many projects of this kind for our people," the Head of Government underlined.
The Roads Department of the Georgian Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure has finalized work on a 15.5-kilometer section (Gurjaani Bypass) along the Bakurtsikhe-Telavi-Akhmeta Highway. Regular traffic will commence today.
Gurjaani Bypass connects the domestic Bakurtsikhe-Telavi-Akhmeta Highway to the international Tbilisi-Bakurtsikhe-Lagodekhi Highway. This new road will enable vehicles on the road between Gurjaani and Bakurtsikhe to avoid passing through Gurjaani and 6 villages of Gurjaani Municipality: Bakurtsikhe, Kolagi, Dzirkoki, Chandari, Vejini, and Chumlaki. Instead, traffic, previously moving through Gurjaani, will move down Gurjaani Bypass, a crucially important environmental and road safety factor for the local population. The new road also reduces travel time by half.
The Gurjaani Bypass project was implemented with support from the World Bank. Its value made up 38 million GEL.
The event was attended by Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Irakli Karseladze, the World Bank's Program Leader Abdulaziz Faghi, Majoritarian MP Davit Songhulashvili, Head of the Government Administration's Regional Liaison Department Leri Barnabishvili, Kakheti State Representative Irakli Shioshvili, and Gurjaani Municipality Mayor Archil Khandamashvili.
