“I would like to congratulate you on the opening of the Surami bypass, a crucial section of our country’s main road artery, the East-West Expressway. This is a truly significant milestone for Georgia. This project represents another step toward our strategic goal of making Georgia the central, fastest, and safest link of the Middle Corridor connecting Europe and Asia,” said Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze during his speech at the opening of the Surami bypass.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the large-scale engineering project — a 6.4-kilometre road with 11 bridges and 5 tunnels — fully meets the highest international standards.

“In recent years, we have opened the most challenging sections of Rikoti and the Batumi bypass. Now, with the opening of the Surami section, we have a continuous expressway from Tbilisi to the Rikoti tunnel. This means shorter travel times, improved safety, and, most importantly, relief for Surami and nearby settlements from heavy transit traffic.

This project goes far beyond infrastructure. It reduces logistics costs, increases cargo turnover, creates jobs, and attracts investment — directly benefiting our citizens while strengthening Georgia’s economic, regional, and geopolitical standing. The results are evident: under our government, over 298 kilometres of highways have been built, compared to just 68 kilometres before 2012,” Kobakhidze noted.

He added that all ongoing projects will be completed in stages, with construction soon to begin on the Batumi-Sarpi, Tsiteli Khidi, and Sadakhlo sections.

Kobakhidze thanked Georgia’s long-standing partner, the World Bank, and all those involved in implementing the project for their support.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of Georgia’s executive, legislative, and local governments.