A key highway improvement project will boost transport for a mountainous area of Tajikistan – image © courtesy of Marko Bukorovic, Dreamstime.com
A new highway project is being planned for Tajikistan, to the east of the capital Dushanbe. The highway upgrade will cost US$350 million and will provide a better transport link through a mountainous area. Improvements will be carried out to 75km of road connecting the towns of Obigarm and Nurobod.
The current route features numerous switchbacks and presents a safety hazard for drivers, which the work will address. For the project two tunnels will be built, measuring a total of 3,300m. How the tunnelling work will be carried out remains to be seen although the conditions suggest that drilling and blasting may be suitable at least for a portion of the work. Furthermore, the builders will construct two new bridges measuring a total of 750m.
Funding for the work is being provided jointly with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) contributing $150 million, while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing $110 million and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is contributing $50 million. The remainder will likely be provided by the Tajikistan Government.
