On the Chabua Amirejib highway, efforts are underway to prevent rock erosion and ensure safety. A protective net is being installed to mitigate the risk of rock falls, and ongoing rock cleaning activities are part of the endeavor. The State Procurement Agency’s website indicates that the project cost totals 4,424,000 GEL.
The stretch of road facing the threat of rock falls is situated between the intersections of Amirejibi and Kakutsa Cholokashvili highways and Mikheil Tamarashvili Street. This segment will remain closed for traffic until September 10.
“In Tbilisi’s Saburtalo district, along the Chabua Amirejibi highway, a rocky area has sections prone to rock falls. Protective nets were installed on various parts of the rock years ago, complemented by consistent cleaning and monitoring of fallen debris at the rockbase,” the Agency website reports.
“Based on construction experience, the underlying foundation of erosion consists of Upper Eocene sandstones and mudstones. These rock formations are naturally compact and resilient when in contact with moisture, classifying them as bedrock. However, prolonged exposure to the surface accelerates their deterioration, causing them to dry out and accumulate gypsum. Among them, argillites and subargillites are especially susceptible to rapid deterioration, transforming into slag and debris.
“From a geodynamic standpoint, these rock formations are heavily dislocated and affected by tectonic disturbances. Their overall strength and resistance to erosion, landslides, and gravity-induced processes are notably low, leading to significant geodynamic activity.
“Recently, the erosion of the stone formations has intensified, resulting in larger fallen rocks. As a consequence, the previously installed protective grid has been compromised by the impact of these larger boulders. Unfortunately, this grid can no longer guarantee the safety of the area. Although efforts are made to clear the fallen debris, the rate of stone erosion is on the rise. Immediate and comprehensive research of this rock section is imperative. Based on this analysis, an anti-rock erosion net must be established using anchoring mechanisms.”
By Mariam Gorkhelashvili
