Georgia is Building a Corridor to Russia for Armenia: What Will Change with the Algeti-Sadakhlo Road?

Before the completion of the construction of the Rustavi-Algeti highway, which reaches the Armenian border, it will connect Yerevan with the E60 international expressway and allow Armenian goods to be delivered to Russia more quickly. This opinion was expressed by Paata Tsagerashvili, the director of the Center for Transport Corridor Studies in Georgia, in an interview with Sputnik Armenia.

According to him, this will allow Yerevan to become indirectly a part of the European project of the East-West international highway (E 60) and receive a compact corridor through Georgian territory.

Earlier, the importance of implementing this project for both Georgia and Armenia was also mentioned by Irakli Karseladze, Georgia’s Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure. He noted that the construction project of the Rustavi-Algeti road towards Sadakhlo will be groundbreaking for both Georgia and Armenia.

The Project of the Century

The East-West highway, or the E-60 European transit road, is often referred to as the project of the century. It is the second-largest European transit corridor, starting in Brest (France) and ending in Erkheshtam (Kyrgyzstan). In Georgia, the E-60 begins at the border with Azerbaijan and ends at the Black Sea coast near the port of Poti. The length of the corridor in Georgian territory is 392 km, with one of its branches leading to the Armenian border.

The timelines for the project's implementation in Georgia have been postponed twice for various reasons, one of which was the coronavirus pandemic. In early July 2021, Tbilisi received a loan of €106.7 million from the European Investment Bank for the construction of roads leading to the borders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

It is planned to create a modern and safe highway on the current road. This will enable freight and passenger transport. As a result of the modernization, traffic safety will increase, and transportation costs will decrease.

A Corridor to Moscow

Tsagerashvili believes that the initiative is indeed important, including for Armenia. He considers the road strategically significant, as it is one of the arteries connecting the East with the West. “This road is designed for a large flow of cargo from Georgia to Armenia and from Armenia to Russia and Europe,” said Tsagerashvili.

He explained that the project being carried out in Georgia is part of a so-called compact corridor for Armenia to Russia. It includes three terrains: the Sadakhlo-Rustavi road via Algeti, a 45-kilometer highway bypassing Tbilisi, and a 9-kilometer tunnel under the Khach mountain pass at the Upper Lars checkpoint.

Tsagerashvili clarified that all these projects are in the initial phase. After their completion, Armenian trucks will reach Russia faster, and this route will be cheaper.

He also emphasized the importance of modernizing roads within Armenia. The expert believes that without Yerevan's participation, the projects in Georgia will not be complete. He reminded that in recent years, both Armenia and Georgia have deteriorated in road quality metrics. According to the World Bank, Georgia has dropped from 56th place in 2012 to 81st, while Armenia has dropped from 80th to 91st.

Moreover, on Armenian highways, freight trucks have to consume up to 50 liters of gasoline every 100 kilometers, which is nearly double the norm. He noted that this reduces the attractiveness of transporting goods through Armenia.