Tbilisi City Hall, led by Mayor Kakha Kaladze, announced the commencement of the rehabilitation of Tsereteli Avenue and the Shota Shalikashvili Bridge on April 19, 2023. The works led to congestion, traffic rerouting, clouds of dust, and the characteristic-to-Georgia dangerously unleveled and dug up walkways for pedestrians to navigate as works progressed.
Named after renowned Georgian writer Akaki Tsereteli, the avenue’s rehabilitated form, despite contract extensions, is set to fully open for traffic by the end of January 2024, the Tbilisi City Hall press service has regularly insisted.
The final stages of the rehabilitation project being carried out throughout the Didube district include the completion of underground communication installations along Tsereteli Avenue. Road works, currently active and expected to conclude by month-end, will lead to the complete restoration of traffic in the area, City Hall has assured disgruntled citizens.
In a development this week, Tbilisi City Hall terminated its contracts with the previous rehabilitation contractors for Tsereteli Avenue. A simplified purchase of 17.7 million was announced for the avenue’s rehabilitation, citing non-compliance by the previous contractors, which resulted in project delays. The new plan sets a deadline of January 31 for the completion of the project by the newly contracted companies Enco, Parma, Geo Group, and Black Sea Group.
Deputy Mayor Irakli Bendeliani confirmed the signing of contracts with the four companies and emphasized their active involvement in ongoing rehabilitation works.
The capital and the country have a powerful government that will not allow the public to be misled, deceived or lied to Contracts have been signed with four new companies. Works are actively being carried out
Mayor Kakha Kaladze expressed confidence in the government’s commitment to completing the Tsereteli Avenue project and highlighted the dedication of all involved, including himself, his deputies, and the staff, to meet the end-of-January deadline.
“Even if we have to work – me, my deputies and our staff, the rehabilitation of Tsereteli Avenue, the road infrastructure will be completed by the end of January,” Kaladze said this week.
In related news, politician and head of the For Georgia opposition party, Giorgi Gakharia, this week said,
“We have appealed to the Prosecutor General of Georgia to launch an investigation on the systemic elite/political corruption of the Tbilisi Mayor. Inactivity, which has become a pattern, opens the door to impunity and fuels more corruption, which is effectively used for electoral fraud and vote manipulation by GD. Everyone has their share of responsibility in conducting free and fair elections!”
“The capital and the country have a powerful government that will not allow the public to be misled, deceived or lied to,” Kaladze countered. “Of course, we will complete the Tsereteli Avenue project. We will carry out other important work that the capital needs, everything will be done for the future of our country.”
Interestingly, as part of the avenue’s long journey towards rehabilitation, on May 8, 2023, Tbilisi City Hall announced the discovery of 19th-century crypts on Tsereteli Avenue. Archaeologists and the Georgian National Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection were called in to oversee the study of these underground constructions, which are believed to be tombs.
According to the archaeologist Merab Dzneladze, around 12 tombs were discovered in the area surrounding the nearby church.
By Team GT
