Infrastructure Minister: Construction of new Aragvi bridge to continue intensively to lift temporary restrictions as soon as possible

Infrastructure Minister Revaz Sokhadze, together with representatives of the Roads Department and the contractor company, inspected the ongoing construction of a new bridge over the Aragvi River.

According to the minister, trucks traveling from western Georgia toward Tbilisi will temporarily use the Narekvavi–Mtskheta–Zahesi route to ensure the safe operation of the existing bridge and prevent traffic disruptions.

“This is a preventive measure aimed at avoiding damage to the existing bridge caused by heavy loads and, consequently, preventing more extensive restrictions. The restriction will remain in effect until the end of the year and will be lifted once the new bridge is commissioned,” Sokhadze said.

The minister said that passenger vehicles are free to travel in both directions at a speed limit of 60 km/h, while trucks traveling from east to west will continue to use the existing route under the current traffic regime.

“We understand that redirecting truck traffic to an alternative route will cause some inconvenience to the residents of Mtskheta, and I apologize to them in advance. However, this is a necessary and temporary decision aimed at ensuring road safety. We will work as intensively as possible on the construction of the new bridge so that the works are completed in the shortest possible time and the restriction can be lifted,” the infrastructure minister said.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the existing bridge over the Aragvi River, located at kilometer 26 of the Tbilisi–Senaki–Leselidze highway, was built in the 1970s. Due to heavy traffic and substantial loads, damage periodically occurs on the bridge’s roadway, requiring partial traffic restrictions during repairs.

“To prevent similar disruptions, starting at 00:00 on August 13, trucks traveling from west to east will use the Narekvavi–Mtskheta–Zahesi route. In the opposite direction, truck traffic will continue under the existing regime, as will passenger vehicle traffic in both directions.

“Construction of a new bridge meeting modern standards, parallel to the existing bridge, is currently in an active phase. The new bridge is scheduled to be commissioned this year, after which the temporary restriction on truck traffic will be lifted.

“The Roads Department urges drivers to take the temporary traffic arrangement into account when planning their journeys,” the Ministry of Infrastructure said.