2017-06-27
The 56.5 km Zestaponi-Kutaisi-Samtredia highway is fully operable now that the 15.2 km Zestaponi-Kutaisi bypass section has been added to it.
The road's opening ceremony today was attended by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Zurab Alavidze and Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motome Takisawa.
The Prime Minister spoke of spatial planning, one of the key directions under the Government's four-point reform agenda, emphasizing that Kutaisi will become Georgia's most important hub linking east to west and north to south.
"Imereti is the heart of Georgia. We are implementing important projects, such as the highway connecting Kutaisi to the resorts of Mestia and Tetnuldi, the highway linking Kutaisi to Abastumani and Southern Georgia, the upcoming expansion project of the Kutaisi Airport, the shuttle sleeve of the East-West Railroad that will lead to the doorstep of the Kutaisi Airport, and the vital Kutaisi University Complex project, with its cooperation agreement recently signed with the Technical University of Munich. All these, along with Kutaisi's rich cultural heritage, will turn this place into a genuine hub. We also plan to develop a logistic center at the Kutaisi Airport and in just an hour ride by car, we have the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project poised to give tremendous impetus to not only this area, but also all of Georgia. We are witnessing an unprecedented period of development in the history of Georgia," the Prime Minister said.
According to the Head of Government, more projects than ever are in full swing, and there are more vital investment and infrastructural projects expected to launch in the second quarter of 2018. Capital costs will double, which will be made possible with more partners participating.
The Prime Minster thanked the Government of Japan and international financial institutions for making a significant contribution to Georgia's development.
"This road section is part of the larger transformation process, with all of us as its participants, and this success is only achieved through total engagement," Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated.
Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motome Takisawa thanked the Prime Minister of Georgia for cooperation and spoke of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He emphasized the growing importance of Georgia as a transit hub. Takisawa hopes that the new highway will contribute to the development of both Georgia and the wider Caucasus Region.
As part of the Zestaponi-Kutaisi bypass construction project, four-lane highway with a cement and concrete surface was built, along with 9 parallel bridges, 2 transport hubs, 4 pedestrian bridges, underpasses, and reinforced concrete water pipes. The value of the project financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency is 71 million GEL and 22 million Euro.
Prime Minister's Press Office