The Georgian government has approved the start of land acquisition for two key sections of the planned Tbilisi bypass highway, according to a decree issued on September 19. The project, seen as one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in recent years, aims to ease congestion in the capital and strengthen connectivity between key transport corridors.
The decree authorizes the Roads Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure to begin land acquisition procedures on:
- Tsitsamuri–Avchala section (6.5 km)
- Avchala–Airport section (22.5 km)
Land acquisition will be conducted in line with the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) social policy standards, suggesting that ADB may co-finance parts of the project. However, the decree does not specify the estimated costs of the land acquisition process.
The Tbilisi bypass highway will consist of several sections, with a total length of 51 kilometers. The project includes:
- 48 bridges (11.6 km total length)
- 6 new tunnels (10.7 km total length)
- Use of existing bypass railway infrastructure, including 4 tunnels (3.6 km) and a 921-meter bridge.
According to the document, Avchala–Airport (22.5 km) is the largest and most expensive segment, estimated at USD 300 million. It will reuse railway tunnels and bridges while adding four new tunnels (3.8 km total) and a new 928-meter tunnel.
- Tsitsamuri–Avchala (6.5 km) – estimated at $150 million, requiring two parallel tunnels of 3.4 km each.
- Airport–Lochini (10.4 km) – construction estimated at $100 million.
- Lochini–Rustavi (11 km) – projected cost of $70 million.
Environmental impact assessments (EIA) and permitting procedures for all four lots have been underway since 2024, laying the groundwork for construction to proceed once land acquisition is complete.
