2018-05-01
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili visited today the rehabilitation site of the Tskneti-Betania Road, which is about to be completed. The construction of the road, damaged during the June 13, 2015 natural disaster, will be finalized in June 2018.
"It is very gratifying that, with financing from the European Investment Bank, this road, which is related to the infamous natural disaster, the flood in Tbilisi, will be completed-in fact, it is almost completed. This is where the main landslide started and spread further. You can see for yourselves the scope of this disaster.
A company has been working here for almost a year with financial support from the European Investment Bank. These works cost a total of 26 million GEL. The best part is that the technologies used here will most likely ensure against similar occurrences happening along this section in the future, which is very important in terms of safety.
Several municipalities, such as Tsalka, Gardabani, Tetritskaro, and others, have been using this road, which is why it is so important to our population. They used to make a long detour to get home. It is also important for the development of tourism, of course. You must have seen the structures under construction in line with European standards. Brand new structures are being built in the Vere Gorge to ensure against what happened in the past when uprooted trees blocked the gorge and the water accumulated. This will not happen again because there will be safety nets installed.
The new road also passes through the village of Akhaldaba. So this good work will be completed by June to be commissioned on the third anniversary of the disaster. It is a very good example of international cooperation, because the development of the road's design and safety elements involved American, European, German and Turkish, specialists. Thus, an international team has developed this project. Such cooperation, of course, enhances the qualifications of Georgian specialists. I believe that this cooperation is equally important to the Caucasus Road Project, the company in charge of construction works, which as you can see is implementing the works at the highest level.
The project's structure proper is different, involving a public-private partnership, because this project also includes a maintenance obligation, which motivates the company to excel in performing its work, so that maintenance costs in the future may be lower. Thus, it is a very good project," the Prime Minister of Georgia stated.
Along with the Head of Government, the Tskneti-Betania Road's rehabilitation site was visited by Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maya Tskitishvili, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, EU Ambassador to Georgia Janos Herman, and EIB Vice President Vazil Hudák.
The 26-million GEL project is implemented by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure with financial support from the European Investment Bank.
Prime Minister's Press Office