The Georgian government has given the permission to begin land acquisition for two major sections of the long-planned Tbilisi bypass highway, a project expected to significantly reduce traffic in the capital and strengthen the country’s transport corridors.
The government decree, issued on September 19, dictates that the Roads Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure is authorized to acquire land for the Tsitsamuri–Avchala (6.5 km) and Avchala–Airport (22.5 km) sections. The process will follow the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) social policy standards, hinting on possible ADB co-financing.
The Tbilisi bypass highway is one of Georgia’s largest recent infrastructure undertakings, stretching 51 kilometers in total. The project design includes 48 bridges (11.6 km in total), six new tunnels (10.7 km) and reuse of existing bypass railway infrastructure, including four tunnels (3.6 km) and a 921-meter bridge.
Estimated construction costs for key sections are:
- Avchala–Airport (22.5 km): $300 million, featuring four new tunnels (3.8 km) and a 928-meter tunnel.
- Tsitsamuri–Avchala (6.5 km): $150 million, requiring two parallel tunnels (3.4 km each).
- Airport–Lochini (10.4 km): $100 million.
- Lochini–Rustavi (11 km): $70 million.
Environmental impact assessments and permitting procedures for all four segments began in 2024.
