The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million loan for the construction of a new bypass road around Tbilisi. The project will be part of a large-scale modernization of the East-West highway and is expected to improve traffic flow both within the country and along international transport routes.

The project involves the construction of an 18.9-kilometer four-lane section of the Tbilisi bypass road. The work will include two key directions: the section from Tbilisi Airport to Lochini and the route from Lochini to Rustavi. The new infrastructure will allow redirecting part of the traffic flows outside the capital, reducing the load on city roads, and accelerating cargo transportation.

According to the bank's assessment, the new highway will reduce travel time, decrease transportation costs, and lower harmful emissions. In addition, the project is expected to improve road safety and strengthen Georgia's position as an important transit hub between Central Asia and Europe. The total amount of ADB support for the country's road infrastructure has already exceeded $2.3 billion.