Georgia : East–West Highway (Shorapani–Argveta Section) Improvement Project

Sovereign Project | 53178-001

The Project involves construction of a new road section of the E-60 highway located in Imereti Region of central Georgia. Section F4 forms the Shoropani-Argveta portion of the Khevi-Ubisa-Shorapani-Argveta section of the E-60.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Naqvi, Zaigham Ali Akbar
    Central and West Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Georgia
  • Sector
    • Transport
Project Name East–West Highway (Shorapani–Argveta Section) Improvement Project
Project Number 53178-001
Country / Economy Georgia
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Loan
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan 3861-GEO: East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project
Ordinary capital resources US$ 278.00 million
Operational Priorities OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration
Sector / Subsector

Transport / Road transport (non-urban)

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The Project involves construction of a new road section of the E-60 highway located in Imereti Region of central Georgia. Section F4 forms the Shoropani-Argveta portion of the Khevi-Ubisa-Shorapani-Argveta section of the E-60.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The loan aims to implement the Road Corridors Development Program to rehabilitate, improve or construct several roads in various regions of Georgia.

The Government of Georgia is endeavoring to make Georgia a regional and logistics hub and more attractive for businesses. The East West Highway (EWH), stretching 410 km from Sarpi on the Black Sea, at the border with Turkey, through the center of the country to the capital Tbilisi and on to the border with Azerbaijan, is the main inter-regional and international route between western and eastern Georgia, as well as its neighboring countries. Representing about 2% of Georgia's road network and one fourth of its international roads, the EWH serves 8,000 to 10,000 vehicles per day and carries over 60% of the country's international trade. The EWH will be an integral part of one of the six key CAREC corridors providing the shortest transit link to connect Central Asia with Europe and East Asia.

In light of the traffic growth on EWH, the high percentage of truck traffic, and the difficult terrain and resulting geometric profiles, capacity expansion of the current 2-lane mountainous section between Chumateleti and Argveta is crucial to realizing full potential of the EWH with improvements to the highway either completed or underway on each side of this section.

Therefore, the Government has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and several other development partners to finance the remaining bottleneck sections (Chumateleti-Argveta) on the EWH. A feasibility study financed under a World Bank project for the Chumateleti Argveta section (comprising four sections F1 through F4) of the EWH was completed in 2015. The detailed design of Section F1 has been completed and selection of the construction Contractor is on-going. Detailed design of sections F2, F3 and F4 is now on-going and this report forms the EIA for detailed design phase of section F4 which will be followed by sections F3 and F2.

Impact

Economic growth and regional connectivity supported (Georgia Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2020)

Infrastructure and economic connectivity cluster improved (CAREC 2030)

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Efficiency and safety of road transport along the East-West Highway (EWH) improved

Progress Toward Outcome The Midterm Review (MTR) Mission was conducted in Sept-Oct 2022 to review the implementation progress, recalibrate the contract award and disbursement projections, and review and agree on procurement requirements of the project.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Shorapani and Argveta section constructed

Road safety increased

Overload control implemented

PBM contract implemented

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) As of 30 September 2022, cumulative works progress for the F4 section is about 12.8%. Works are ongoing on tunnels and bridges. The road safety awareness component and capacity building for operation and maintenance and project management component under F2 and F4 loans are harmonized for implementation. The road safety campaigns for both F2 and F4 will be conducted in 2023 during UN Road Safety week. Project management training program is planned to be delivered in 2023. The road maintenance sustainability strategy is in the initial stages of preparation. The contract for the procurement of 38 portable scales was awarded in November 2022. Procurement of weigh-in-motion equipment is expected to commence by Q2 2023. During the MTR, the government has requested to cancel the PBM component given the change in the government's priorities.
Geographical Location Argveta, Shorapani
Safeguard Categories
Environment A
Involuntary Resettlement A
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects The project has been classified as environment category A. The draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) was disclosed on 28 May 2019. This draft was submitted and reviewed by ADB and all key elements required for disclosure were present including the use of IFC standards for noise modelling in line with ADB's SPS 2009. The project will have significant adverse impacts that are irreversible and diverse. The alignment will be partially new and will require significant amounts of tunneling and bridge building activities with significant community impacts from resettlement and land conversion. Works will require construction in the Dzirula, Kvirila and Borimela rivers with 10 bridges, resulting in the loss of riparian habitat. Tunneling and cutting will require disposal of spoil during construction of 700,000 cubic meters. Impacts on noise, vibration, air quality, and surface water will occur during construction.
Involuntary Resettlement The project is categorized as A for involuntary resettlement. As per the preliminary inventory, there are 455 APs with 2047 DPs affected by IR. Of these, 379 APs are severely affected, including 21 who are physically displaced. A land acquisition and resettlement plan (LARP) was prepared for JICA and is currently under implementation, approximately 90% completed. A due diligence is being performed on the LARP and a corrective action plan prepared to cover gaps between JICA and ADB policy.
Indigenous Peoples The project is classified as category C for indigenous people. There are no indigenous peoples in the project area as defined in ADB's SPS (2009).
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design Consultations were carried out with different stakeholders, including local communities in Zestafoni, in particular women, local authority representatives and civil society groups to inform them of the project as well as discuss its social and economic impacts. Civil society organizations were consulted to discuss community and gender-related issues.
During Project Implementation Civil society organization does not have a specific role during project implementation.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services Consulting firms will be selected and engaged using the quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS) method and quality-based selection (QBS) method, where applicable.
Procurement The procurement of goods, works, and the selection of consultant services will follow the new procurement framework as set out in ADB's Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and the Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time). Open competitive bidding (OCB) will be adopted for procurement and recruitment activities.
Responsible ADB Officer Naqvi, Zaigham Ali Akbar
Responsible ADB Department Central and West Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Transport and Communications Division, CWRD
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia
Timetable
Concept Clearance 02 Jul 2019
Fact Finding 15 Jul 2019 to 26 Jul 2019
MRM 12 Sep 2019
Approval 22 Nov 2019
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 28 Dec 2022

Loan 3861-GEO

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
22 Nov 2019 27 Nov 2019 08 Jan 2020 31 Dec 2025 - -
Financing Plan Loan Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 367.40 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 278.00 28 Apr 2023 184.36 0.00 66%
Counterpart 89.40 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 28 Apr 2023 99.45 0.00 36%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory - - Satisfactory

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.


Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Social Monitoring Report (Compliance Report No. 4) Social Monitoring Reports Sep 2022
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Social Monitoring Report (January-June 2022) Social Monitoring Reports Jul 2022
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2022) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jul 2022
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: E60 Highway Section F4 Addendum no. 2 Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan Resettlement Plans Jun 2022
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Social Monitoring Report (July-December 2021) Social Monitoring Reports Jan 2022
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (July-December 2021) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jan 2022
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Social Monitoring Report (Compliance Report No. 3) Social Monitoring Reports Dec 2021
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2021) Environmental Monitoring Reports Aug 2021
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Social Monitoring Report (January-June 2021) Social Monitoring Reports Jul 2021
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Social Monitoring Report (Compliance Report No. 2) Social Monitoring Reports May 2021
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Social Monitoring Report (July-December 2020) Social Monitoring Reports Jan 2021
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (July-December 2020) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jan 2021
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Bi-Annual Social Monitoring Report (January-June 2020) Social Monitoring Reports Nov 2020
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Segments 1 to 7 Social Monitoring Report (Compliance Report No. 1) Social Monitoring Reports Oct 2020
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: E60 Highway Section F4 Addendum Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan Resettlement Plans Aug 2020
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2020) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jul 2020
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessments Oct 2019
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: E60 Highway Section F4 Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan Resettlement Plans Oct 2019
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Safeguards Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Sep 2019
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: E60 Highway Section F4 Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan Resettlement Plans Aug 2019
East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessments May 2019

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

  • 29 Mar 2023 | Video

    Developing Georgia’s Transport Corridors

    ADB supports the development of Georgia’s transport corridors from the East-West Highway to the North-South Corridor to help grow its economy by improving local and regional connectivity and making travel faster and safer for locals and tourists.
  • 25 Nov 2019 | News Release

    ADB to Help Construct, Improve Part of Georgia's East–West Highway

    ADB has approved a $278 million loan (in euro equivalent) to construct and rehabilitate about 30 kilometers of main and secondary roads between the towns of Shorapani and Argveta on Georgia’s East–West Highway..

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
3861-GEO: East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project [SARP/GD/OCB-01] Invitation for Bids Closed
Project Implementation Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Road Asset Management Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
RESETTLEMENT EXTERNAL MONITORING CONSULTANT Individual - Consulting Closed
53178-GEO: East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project [SARP/CW/OCB-01] Invitation for Bids Closed
Construction Supervision Consultant for E-60 Highway F4 Shorapani-Argveta Section Firm - Consulting Closed
53178-GEO: East-West Highway (Shorapani–Argveta Section) Improvement Project Advance Notice Active

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION CONSULTANT FOR THE E60 HIGHWAY F4 SHORAPANI-ARGVETA PROJECT Loan 3861 19 May 2020 JV UBM ULUSLARARASI AND SMEC INTL PTY LTD | KAZIM OZALP MAH. RESIT GALIP CADDESI NO: 94 G.O.P. CANKAYA/ANKARA TURKEY Min. of Regional Dev't.& Infrastructure of Georgia 7,276,541.58 6,253,573.29
CONSTRUCTION OF SHORAPANI-ARGVETA SECTION (E60 HIGHWAY ROUTE) Loan 3861 21 Jan 2020 JV GUIZHOU HWAY ENG & CHINA NATL TECH IMP&EXP | NO 305, SOUTH SECTION OF BAIYUN AVENUE YUNYAN DISTRICT, GUIYANG CITY, GUIZHOU CHINA,PEOPLE'SREP.OF Min. of Regional Dev't.& Infrastructure of Georgia 201,943,619.30 165,766,450.30

Procurement Plan

Title Document Type Document Date
East–West Highway (Shorapani–Argveta Section) Improvement Project: Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Feb 2022