Holidays in Gyumri Change the Pace of Road Construction

The decision to hold nationwide events in Gyumri on September 21 has altered the pace of ongoing road construction work that lacks a clear completion deadline. Intensive construction is taking place on nearly all streets included in a major project. The speed of work suggests where the main locations of the events will be, particularly on segments of the city streets.

The workforce and equipment of construction companies are concentrated on 6 streets and 3 squares. For newcomers to Gyumri, the first impression is already positive: the Yerevan Highway is a smooth and asphalted street approximately 3 km long, with traffic signs installed and road markings fresh and visible. What remains is to make the city's entrance brighter by adding more lighting points.

Another significant segment of this street that underwent changes in the construction project is the Garagayin Nzhdeh Square. The asphalt leveling has been completed; the final task is to finish constructing the safety island for the upcoming nationwide event. Roundabout traffic is finally being restored, and soon traffic signs will also be in place.

No statue will appear in the circular square for now; it is planned to be a green ring. The pedestrian crossings will be situated on three sides of the Garagayin Nzhdeh circular square. Guarantees have been given regarding the quality and maintenance of the asphalt layer, crucially ensuring that rainwater and melting snow will not accumulate under the square or bridge. The drainage system has been completely upgraded.

Work on the Garagayin Nzhdeh Square, which continues from the Yerevan Highway, will be completed by another construction company. However, there is still a need for extensive construction on Garagayin Nzhdeh Street, which has no relation to the eponymous square. The street is located in the Textile neighborhood, and delays in deadlines and corrections in construction are being handled by a different construction company. After the Yerevan Highway, Tigran the Great is regarded as one of the city's busy and wide streets. The slow pace of construction here has also transitioned the contractor to active work.

One section of the street has been kept closed for most of the day in order to finish the repairs that have been ongoing for 1.5 years. For over a month, the contractor has been unable to finish the asphalt paving on part of the sidewalks. Residents have prohibited this, with the obstructive factor being an unused booth, occupying an area of 110 square meters.

One of the members of the Gyumri city council, Mkhtiar Sahakyan, joined in on the complaints. He is also a resident of this neighborhood, but as a city council member, he was aware that the property rights on the owner's booth had long expired, and the municipality had warned him about the need to remove the booth.

The owner, Aram Manukyan, has not complied with the demand to relocate it, and the matter has gone to court. In an interview with SHANTNEWS.am, Manukyan insisted that he is not illegally occupying the land and does not intend to remove the booth. Residents remain adamant about their demand not allowing any asphalt paving in this area.

On Vazgen Sargsyan Street, nothing now interferes with the construction process. Deficiencies have been corrected, and the asphalt paving is continuing here using specific technology, but without halting or closing the street, which complicates the contractor's work. There is no instruction for construction companies to switch to a night work schedule. Until 9 PM in the evening, the workers are actively engaged in labor.

Construction companies no longer complain about the workforce.