Georgia : Preparing the East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project
The Government of Georgia, through the Roads Department (RD) of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, is planning capacity expansion of the current 2-lane mountainous section of the East West Highway (Highway E60) between Chumateleti and Argveta in central Georgia, a distance of about 53 km, through mountainous terrain. The Government has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and several other development partners to finance this expansion program.
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Lisack, Valerie
Central and West Asia Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Georgia -
Sector
- Transport
Related Projects
- Project Name
- Preparing the East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project
- Project Number
- 53178-002
- Country / Economy
- Georgia
- Project Status
- Closed
- Project Type / Modality of Assistance
- Technical Assistance
- Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9755-GEO: Preparing the East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project Source Amount Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 200,000.00 - Strategic Agendas
- Environmentally sustainable growth
- Inclusive economic growth
- Regional integration
- Drivers of Change
- Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
- Governance and capacity development
- Sector / Subsector
Transport / Road transport (non-urban)
- Gender
- Some gender elements
- Description
- The Government of Georgia, through the Roads Department (RD) of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, is planning capacity expansion of the current 2-lane mountainous section of the East West Highway (Highway E60) between Chumateleti and Argveta in central Georgia, a distance of about 53 km, through mountainous terrain. The Government has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and several other development partners to finance this expansion program.
- Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
The Government of Georgia is committed to developing the country as a regional transport and logistics hub for trade between Europe and Central Asia and even East Asia. 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. The EWH represents about 2% of Georgia's road network length, one fourth of its international road network and carries over 60% of the country's foreign trade. The EWH serves 13,000 vehicles per day (vpd) on average, with a traffic growth rate of over 10% per annum since 2005. After Georgia's admission to CAREC in 2016, the EWH has been an integral part of one of the six key CAREC corridors providing the shortest transit link connecting Central Asia with Europe and East Asia.
A feasibility study financed under a World Bank project for the ChumateletiArgveta section (comprising four sections F1 through F4) of the EWH was completed in 2015. The World Bank and EIB are cofinancing section F1 of about 11km from Chumateleti to Khevi. Procurement for civil works is on-going. Detailed design of the approximate 42 km section, sections F2, F3, and F4 between Khevi and Argveta, have been finalized under an ongoing ADB loan (Loan 2843-GEO). L3715-GEO: East-West Highway (KheviUbisa Section) Improvement Project (F2) was approved by ADB on 27 September 2018, the civil works contract was awarded on 20 November 2018 with mobilization advance disbursed on 21 December 2018. Contractor mobilization is expected in May 2019. The E-60 UbisaShorapani Section F3 (FL 20160404) was approved by the EIB on 3 September 2018, the civil works contract was awarded on 21 November 2018 with mobilization advance also disbursed in December 2018. Contractor mobilization is expected in June 2019. F4ShorapaniArgveta Road Section (E60 Highway) was prepared for financing by JICA through a tied loan. However, the bidding process which took place in 2018 was not successful. The Government is now considering ADB financing for this section. The section improvement requires the construction of 12 tunnels (6 double tubes), 12 bridges (10 long span, 2 short span), 4 interchanges and several deep cuttings and high embankments with a total length of 14.8 km. While there are some similarities between the 2 institutions' requirements, the proposed project's documentation (such as EIA, LARP, bidding documents, etc.) finalized in 2018 needs to be adjusted to be in line with ADB's standards and policies and updated to reflect the new timeline. Other than the on-going land acquisition which will need to be comprehensively verified, the due diligence is not expected to be lengthy or substantial, especially since ADB financed the initial project preparation.
The proposed project will improve the ShorapaniArgveta section (F4) of the East West Highway. Further, the project's focus on climate resilient design will contribute to the sustainability of Georgia's road network. The outcome of the project is Efficiency and safety of road transport along the EWH improved. The project will be aligned with the following impacts: (i) economic growth and regional connectivity supported (Georgia 2020),2 and (ii) competitive corridors across the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region established (CAREC Program). The project is in line with the government's Georgia 2020 Strategy and fits with ADB's Strategy 2030.
The proposed small-scale technical assistance (SSTA) will ensure that the project will be prepared to acceptable technical, safeguards, and procurement standards. The ensuing project is expected to meet the 'high readiness criteria before Board consideration.
- Impact
Project Outcome
- Description of Outcome
- Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
- Description of Project Outputs
- Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
- Geographical Location
- Argveta, Shorapani
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
- Environmental Aspects
- Involuntary Resettlement
- Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
- During Project Design
- During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
- Consulting Services
- ADB will engage international consultants to assist ADB and MRDI with preparing the project to the standard required for processing ADB financing. The consultants will be recruited in accordance with ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions. Other required position are as follows: (i) Climate Risks & Vulnerabilities Specialist, (ii) Financial Management Specialist, (iii) Road Safety Specialist, (iv) Transport Economist, (v) Social Development Specialist, (vi) Road Transport Specialist, (vii) Gender & Social Development Consultant
- Procurement
- N/A
Contact
- Responsible ADB Officer
- Lisack, Valerie
- 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
- -
- Fact Finding
- -
- MRM
- -
- Approval
- 02 Jul 2019
- Last Review Mission
- -
- Last PDS Update
- 02 Jul 2019
Funding
TA 9755-GEO
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 02 Jul 2019 | - | 02 Jul 2019 | 30 Jun 2020 | 31 Dec 2020 | 10 Feb 2021 |
| ADB | Cofinancing | Counterpart | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gov | Beneficiaries | Project Sponsor | Others | |||
| 200,000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 200,000.00 |
| Date | Amount |
|---|---|
| 17 Jun 2022 | 150,511.41 |
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Tenders
| Tender Title | Type | Status | Posting Date | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overload Control Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Gender Consultant | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Road Transport Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed |
Contracts Awarded
Procurement Plan
None currently available.