Progress Update on the Armenia-Georgia Highway Renovation

One of the highways from Armenia to Georgia (M-6, Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Bagratashen) will be completely renovated by November 30. This information was confirmed to Sputnik Armenia by the Press Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia.

The three tunnels through the mountains, which have not been renovated for several decades, are being repaired (currently, only two cargo vehicles can pass through). New barriers will be installed in several dangerous sections that run through gorges, and the two-lane road will be widened to three lanes in several places.

The renovation began in 2016 with funding from the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank (51 million euros each). Some of the work had to be postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and military operations. In July, during an emergency session of parliament, Deputy Minister Kristina Galchyan cited August 31 as the final deadline for completing the work, but it has been postponed to November 30.

In addition to the highway, several branch roads are being constructed, including one from Alaverdi to the village of Odzun (which will ease traffic not only from Odzun but also along the entire length of the Stepanavan-Alaverdi road).

It should be noted that a new border bridge from Armenia to Georgia over the Debed River is expected to be completed by May 2022. It is being built parallel to the old bridge. The current two-lane border crossing will be expanded to four lanes (effectively two bridges, each with two lanes), while the existing bridge will become a backup. The construction, worth $7.3 million, is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.