ADB OKs loan for Georgian bypass road project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $114 million loan for Georgia’s Batumi Bypass Road Project, the Bank reported.

ADB is also expected to manage and administer up to $114 million in additional financing for the project provided by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). This is the first ADB project to be co-financed with another development partner in Georgia, and the third project to be co-financed by ADB and AIIB.

Since 2007, ADB has mobilized more than $2.1 billion in public and private sector financing operations for Georgia.

Batumi Bypass Road Project envisages construction of a new two-lane 14.3 km long highway to provide a bypass to the Batumi port city (second largest city in Georgia).

The new two-lane bypass road, starting from the Senaki-Poti-Sarpi road and ending at the juncture of the existing Batumi-Akhaltsikhe road, is an integral part of the East-West Highway.

Batumi Bypass Road project, estimated to cost $315 million, is expected to be implemented during the period from July 2017 to June 2023.

As part of the financing, performance-based maintenance contracts will be implemented for the routine and periodic maintenance of about 200 km of international and connecting secondary roads, according to the message.