A new highway “made in china” will cross the impassable valley of Rikoti, in the center of Georgia. Beijing is assuming a leading role in the life of the country, traditionally divided between the influence of Moscow and that of Western countries.
Tbilisi () – A major project to build a new highway is raising hopes for the future of Georgia. The new road will cross the impassable Rikoti Valley, in central Georgia, and will have more than 50 kilometers, 96 bridges and 53 tunnels, with an expected cost of about one billion dollars, which will completely change the landscape of the heart of the country. .
Tbilisi government leaders are counting on this project as the start of a new season of Chinese investment in Georgia, which could revive the economy after 30 years of civil wars, economic collapse and the loss of two regions in the conflict with Russia. in 2008-2011. At the same time, the local population fears the consequences of major road works.
The new highway could cut off several small towns, such as Šroša, famous for the production of handmade ceramics. A local artist, Zoi Giorgadze, spoke to journalists from Azattykand affirmed that “the new route is, in general, a positive opportunity for the country, but few think about how it will affect people like us, who will lose everything we have due to the realization of a gigantic project.”
The realization of the project will change the entire transport logistics in Georgia, where it is currently very difficult to connect the different regions. The distance between the capital Tbilisi and the Black Sea coast will be cut in half, which will greatly boost tourism. Not only will the east and west of the country be connected, but in general a wide corridor will be created between Europe and Asia, of which Georgia is one of the borders.
The Russian invasion of the Ukraine has accelerated the efforts of the Georgian government, given the commercial transformations that will lead Western shipping companies to overcome the routes to Asia, through the Russian gateways. For this, it is necessary to correct the contracts that were signed since 2018 and that until now have suffered numerous delays and complications. The works were scheduled to begin in 2020 so that they could be inaugurated in 2023, and now it is imperative to start them as soon as possible.
Floods and landslides last March caused the closure of many roads and damage to some main roads, causing concern among environmentalists and geologists. Experts believe the damage is largely due to chronic construction failures, which weakened the foundations of the mountainous terrain not far from the Rikoti valley itself. According to Arčil Magalašvili, a professor of geology at the University of Tbilisi, to whom the Chinese entrusted the consultancy for this work, after the landslides it will be necessary to carry out new checks on the ground, “to redo the accounts and modify the construction plan, taking into account the new risks”, which could again postpone the works indefinitely.
On the contrary, the Chinese are pushing to intensify the works, reinforcing protection on the tops of the mountains with mixed brigades of Chinese, Georgian and foreign workers. China is assuming a major role in the life of the country, traditionally divided between the influence of Moscow and that of Western countries. Since 2017, a free trade agreement with Beijing has also been in force.
The bulk of Chinese investment is focused on logistics and transportation, which also includes the reconstruction of Georgian railway lines, as well as the opening of a large shopping area on the outskirts of Tbilisi, at a cost of almost 200 million Dollars. Some of the contracts arouse various criticisms, such as the one signed with the Sinohydro company, accused of environmental damage and defects in construction and other works. The government ensures that it has full control over all contracts and works, and that Chinese companies are the most competitive and secure among the many with which projects to build the “new Georgia” have been discussed.
Photo: Flickr / Jelger Groeneveld
