Georgian PM: new Rikoti Pass highway section to shorten travel between regions

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday announced that a new section of the East–West highway passing through the Rikoti Pass - which divides Georgia into its western and eastern parts - will become operational from tomorrow evening, reducing travel time between “regions, people and economic centres”.

Speaking at an event marking the completion of construction on the Rikoti Pass highway, Kobakhidze described the project as historic and of exceptional importance for the country.

“From tomorrow evening, a new section of the high-speed road will open, connecting regions, people, and economic centers in a much shorter time. Naturally, this will give a new impulse to our country’s development,” the Prime Minister said.

Kobakhidze added the Rikoti section is the most complex part of the high-speed highway, both technically and geologically. He noted construction began in 2019 and the project is “unprecedented” in the history of Georgia’s road infrastructure development.

“In total, 52 kilometers of four-lane high-speed road have been built, along with 51 tunnels and 97 bridges. These figures speak for themselves,” he noted.

The Prime Minister added that putting the road into operation will shorten the travel distance by eight kilometers and cut travel time in half, improving speed, safety and comfort for both citizens and visitors.

Kobakhidze also highlighted the project’s economic impact, noting that more than 4,000 people were employed during construction, the vast majority of them Georgian citizens. He thanked engineers, geologists, builders, environmental specialists and all professionals involved, as well as to the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Roads Department.

The Prime Minister further thanked international partners for their support, including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, saying their involvement made the “successful completion” of the project possible.