The majestic mountains that characterize Georgia’s scenery present travelers with both a stunning view and a daunting challenge. For years, the Rikoti Pass was one of the most difficult sections of the country’s East-West Highway. The narrow, winding road slowed traffic and created a bottleneck along one of the region’s important trade routes. 

The highway is a key part of CAREC Corridor 2, which largely coincides with the Middle Corridor and links Central Asia with Europe. The East-West Highway carries more than 60% of Georgia’s international trade, so delays along the route can add time and costs for companies, transport operators, and neighboring landlocked countries. 

Georgia began upgrading the Rikoti Pass to address these constraints. ADB financed two sections, Khevi–Ubisa and Shorapani–Argveta, which together form part of the upgraded 52 km Rikoti Pass, now 8 km shorter. The 12-kilometer Khevi–Ubisa section, featuring 35 bridges and 20 tunnels, opened to traffic in October 2023, followed by the full opening of the Shorapani–Argveta section in October 2024. 

The new four-lane road provides a faster and safer route through the mountains for people and freight operators. Travel time between Chumateleti and Argveta is expected to fall from 71 to 45 minutes, while the road crash rate is targeted to decrease by 30%. 

Road safety and maintenance were also part of the work. The project provided 38 portable scales for overload control and supported improvements in road management and maintenance practices. Safety awareness activities and training were also carried out alongside the roadworks. 

Climate-resilient features were included in the design, helping the highway better withstand the conditions of the mountainous terrain. 

Georgia joined the CAREC Program in 2016, and the East-West Highway has since become an important part of its efforts to strengthen connections between Europe and Asia. The upgraded Rikoti Pass removes a long-standing bottleneck on this route and makes it easier for people and goods to move through the country. 

The road through the mountains is still there. It is simply a much easier road to travel.