Traffic restrictions announced across key Tbilisi thoroughfares for Tbilisoba celebrations

Temporary road closures and public transport diversions will be enforced across central Tbilisi to accommodate events for the annual Tbilisoba city festival.

According to Tbilisi City Hall, initial traffic restrictions will apply until 01:00 on Saturday, 3 October, affecting Europe Square and one lane of Metekhi Bridge heading from Vakhtang Gorgasali Street towards Europe Square. During this phase, traffic approaching from Metekhi Rise, Wine Rise, Kote Abkhazi Street, and Vakhtang Gorgasali Street will be blocked from accessing Europe Square, whilst public transport from Gorgasali Street will be rerouted to Baratashvili Street via Kote Abkhazi Street rather than passing over Europe Square and Baratashvili Bridge.

From 01:00 on 3 October until 08:00 on 6 October, a comprehensive closure will come into force across Europe Square, Metekhi Rise, Metekhi Bridge, Wine Rise, and the left-bank underpass ramp. Vehicles travelling from Gorgasali Street can still access the streets around Gorgasali Square directly without turning onto Metekhi Bridge. Meanwhile, drivers crossing from the right bank to the left bank are advised to detour via Baratashvili Bridge or 300 Aragveli Bridge.

Further central restrictions will remain in place until 23:30 on 8 October directly in front of the Presidential Palace, along Giorgi Atoneli Street up to Italia Street, and in Vakhtang Orbeliani Lane. During this window, motorists approaching from Dry Bridge can reach the right embankment via Italia and Soliko Virsaladze Streets, whilst traffic from Gia Chanturia Street must route exclusively via Soliko Virsaladze Street. Drivers travelling towards Atoneli Street from Virsaladze or Chanturia Streets, or from Dry Bridge, can gain access via the right-bank ramp and Baratashvili Street.

In the historic Abanotubani bath district, traffic will be restricted until 01:00 on October 6 along Abano Street (from Vakhtang Gorgasali Street to Ioseb Grishashvili Street) and along Grishashvili Street up to Abano 1st Lane. Motorists can reach Grishashvili Street by detouring through Firdousi and Mirza Fatali Akhundov streets.

To accommodate festival setup and staging, Kosta Khetagurovi Street will be closed from 12:00 on October 2 until 06:00 on October 5. The closure stretches from the Wissol petrol station to the intersection with Guram Sagaradze Street. Access from Shota Gamtsemlidze Street towards Khetagurovi Street will also be restricted, with drivers diverted via Nino Chkheidze Street. Municipal bus services running from Ivane Javakhishvili Street will connect to Baratashvili Bridge via the left embankment instead of Khetagurovi Street. Both main river embankments leading to and from Baratashvili Bridge will remain open throughout.

Additionally, vehicle movement will be restricted from Shota Gamtsemlidze Street towards Khetagurovi Street, with traffic diverted via Nino Chkheidze Street. During this period, public transport from Ivane Javakhishvili Street will connect to Baratashvili Bridge via the Left Bank, rather than using Kosta Khetagurovi Street.

This year, the capital will celebrate the annual Tbilisoba festival on 3–4 October. The main events are set to take place in Rike Park and Orbeliani Square. Tbilisi City Hall has already published the official event programme.