Tusheti road project is starting

Georgia: The Tusheti road project to improve the road traffic safety of the 72 km Pshaveli – Abano – Omalo road is starting. The Department of Roads of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure will implement the project.        

Tusheti road project is divided into eight sections. The tender has already been announced for the road traffic safety improvement works of the first 13.5 km section of the road. In August, the tender will be announced for the works of another 14.7 km section. The total indicative cost of works on the 28.2 km section of the road will be 49 million GEL. By the end of this year, the tender will be announced for the works of all sections of the Tusheti road.

The Department of Motorways prepared the road safety improvement project for the Pshavela-Omalo road. The project envisages the restoration of the profile of the highway, the arrangement of water-carrying, waterway and artificial structures, the complete restoration of the technical means of traffic regulation, the widening of the vacant land within the limits of the possibility, and the arrangement of bumpy barriers to ensure traffic safety. 

On the first section of the Pshaveli-Omalo highway, capital rehabilitation of the asphalted road is planned, with the installation of asphalt and concrete pavement. Depending on the terrain, the pavement of the remaining sections will remain unpaved, the damaged areas of the road will be restored, and the existing parameters will be improved.

The only way to reach Tusheti is the Pshaveli-Omalo road. The road, which starts from the village of Pshaveli in the Telavi municipality and connects to Omalo through the Abano pass, was built in the 60s and 70s of the last century. The Tusheti road passes through the Abano pass, which is located at 2950 meters above sea level. The road is narrow, and landslides often develop. Due to the difficult terrain and meteorological conditions, traffic on the road is possible for about 4-5 months of the year.

The road safety improvement project of the Pshaveli-Abano-Omalo road will be completed gradually in 2025. The total indicative cost of the project will be 100 million GEL.