I would like to congratulate you on the opening of the Zestaponi Bypass. It is a very important part of the construction of the Rikoti Highway hailed as a project of the century, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated in his speech at the inauguration of the 9-kilometer Zestaponi Bypass.

According to him, this project-fully in line with environmental standards and boasting high-level safety-will reduce travel time down said route by half an hour.

The Head of Government believes that the East-West Highway is poised to contribute to the development of the country’s transit function, and this is of essential importance for securing the country’s economic progress.

“In the fall of 2023, a 27-kilometer section of the Rikoti Highway opened. Already enjoyed by our country"s population and guests, it reduces travel time dramatically. Today, we are inaugurating the 9-kilometer 4-lane Zestaponi Bypass.

This section alone saw the cutting of 4 tunnels, the construction of 11 bridges, with enormous, large-scale work invested. Overall, this infrastructure builds on modern technologies, boasts a high level of safety, and reduces travel time by about half an hour down this section alone. Consequently, this good will be enjoyed by our population, of course, and our guests. This is very important news in our country.

This new road will reduce traffic in the city of Zestaponi and offer new opportunities for development, another reason why the construction of this section is so important. With the addition of this road, some 276 kilometers of the East-West Highway will be completed, including the finalized 26 kilometers of 52-kilometers envisaged under the Rikoti project. The construction of the remaining sections continues, and every planned project will be completed in stages.

The East-West Highway is a constituent part of the so-called Middle Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network that passes through Georgia. In light of contemporary developments, this road acquires even greater importance. To ensure its development, numerous large-scale infrastructural projects are carried out concurrently, and all this will promote the essential development of our country’s transit function, something that is existential for securing our country’s economic advancement and maximally tapping into its economic potential.

These projects breathe new life into the regions, and this is expressed not only in reduced travel time and distance, but also in comfortable travel, along with the economic benefits that this project brings to the populations of our regions. Thus, all these projects will foster the development of the regions and the upgrading of the population’s welfare.

In terms of international highway development, the Rikoti Pass has been recognized as the most critical and challenging section. Given the project"s importance, engineering solutions, and scope, this construction can be safely called unprecedented. This project is unparalleled in Georgia, the reason why we hail it as a project of the century without reservation”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.

He thanked everyone who has worked toward the successful implementation of the project, including international partners, the Asian Development Bank, the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure and personally its Minister Irakli Karseladze, and each employee of the Roads Department.

|I also want to thank the many Georgian and foreign specialists engaged in this work: engineers, builders, geologists, hydrologists, and geotechnical engineers. The contribution of each of them is special in terms of the successful implementation of the project. Once again, I want to congratulate you on the completion of this extremely successful project, and wish you success in the future”, - added the Prime Minister.

The event was attended by members of Georgia’s executive and legislative branches of government and representatives of local authorities and international financial institutions.

Under the Rikoti Highway construction project, the 9-kilometer Zestaponi Bypass along the Shorapani-Argveta section opened today for vehicles.

Vehicles traveling down the East-West International Highway (E60) will no longer have to pass through Zestaponi, using instead the Zestaponi Bypass that merges the East-West Highway near Argveta.

The new road will reduce traffic in Zestaponi and reduce travel time on the highway. It will take just 6 minutes to cover the road"s distance.

The cumulative value of the construction work on the Rikoti Pass section is 2.6 billion GEL. The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2024.