The construction of the 23-kilometer Kvesheti-Kobi highway is actively underway, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure. The project includes a unique arch bridge, which will be the highest in the region.

Minister of Infrastructure Revaz Sokhadze, who recently inspected the site with the Prime Minister, said the section leading to Gudauri is expected to open in early 2026, while the entire project will be completed in early 2027.

“This large-scale project, implemented with high engineering standards, will reduce travel time, ensure year-round traffic, and guarantee the safe and smooth movement of both transport and cargo. In addition, the rehabilitation of historical villages is planned, strengthening the region’s tourism potential and contributing significantly to the country’s economic development,” Sokhadze stated.

The Kvesheti-Kobi project, one of Georgia’s largest infrastructure undertakings, includes the construction of a two-lane asphalt-concrete road, five bridges, five tunnels, and the rehabilitation of one existing bridge. Work has already been completed on the nine-kilometre main and evacuation tunnels linking Tskere to Kobi. The main tunnel, constructed using TBM technology, is the longest in Georgia and one of the most unique globally.

Four of the five bridges are under construction, including Georgia’s first balanced cantilever bridge, now the country’s tallest with 47- and 48-meter piers. Additional tunnels measuring 1.5 km and 500 meters have also been excavated, with electro-mechanical installations currently underway.

The project also includes a new five-kilometer road to Gudauri, which will improve access to the resort and prevent winter restrictions in the Kobi direction. Residents of around ten villages in the Khadi Gorge will gain uninterrupted access to services, while travel times will be sharply reduced: Kvesheti-Kobi section – 15 minutes instead of one hour; Tbilisi–Gudauri – 1 hour 30 minutes instead of 2 hours; Tbilisi–Stepantsminda – 1 hour 45 minutes instead of 2 hours 30 minutes.-

The project, worth 1.2 billion GEL, is financed through loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), alongside state co-financing. According to the Ministry, construction will be completed in phases between 2025 and 2026.