Adjara Gov’t Chair highlights strategic importance of Batumi–Sarpi road project

Ajara Government Chair Sulkhan Tamazashvili on Friday said the implementation of major infrastructure projects will contribute to regional development and lead to a “tangible” improvement in the quality of life for local residents.

He said one of the most important initiatives currently under way is the Batumi–Sarpi bypass road project, a key transport corridor that will enhance connectivity in western Georgia and strengthen links with neighbouring Turkey. The project is being implemented with joint funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the state budget.

The Batumi–Sarpi bypass will include an 11.3-kilometre high-speed road, featuring nearly eight kilometres of tunnels and a 1.47-kilometre bridge over the Chorokhi River. Once completed, travel time between Khelvachauri and Sarpi is expected to be reduced by 25 to 30 minutes.

The new route forms an important section of the East–West Highway and will connect to Batumi’s bypass road, creating a direct link between Georgia and the Turkish border. Officials say the project will not only ease traffic congestion but also support economic growth, trade and tourism in the region.

As part of efforts to monitor progress, Tamazashvili visited the designated construction section of the Batumi–Sarpi motorway together with Georgia’s Minister of Infrastructure Revaz Sokhadze and Head of the Roads Department Levan Darakhvelidze. During the visit, they reviewed the project on site and discussed key aspects of its implementation.

The Roads Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure announced an international tender for the construction works in November.