The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a sovereign-guaranteed local currency loan of up to $291.49 million for KazAvtoZhol, the company overseeing the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of Kazakhstan’s national highways. This loan will support reconstructing a 208-kilometer road connecting Kyzylorda and Zhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan.
The project will upgrade the existing two-lane highway to a higher-standard, climate-resilient two-lane road, providing all-weather access and reducing travel time from 4 to 2 hours.
The reconstruction will also improve domestic and regional connectivity and road safety and promote national and international trade.
ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov commented: “By improving the Kyzylorda–Zhezkazgan corridor, we are addressing critical infrastructure constraints that hinder Kazakhstan’s economic growth and balanced regional economic development. The project road is also crucial for leveraging Kazakhstan’s geostrategic advantage and boosting regional and global integration.”
Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, is well-positioned to become a bridge between Asia and Europe. However, due to inefficiencies and high transport and logistics costs, the country needs help leveraging its strategic position. The country has also seen a high traffic fatality rate, with 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
The ADB project incorporates rumble strips, safer pedestrian crossings, and interchanges to improve road safety. These measures are expected to significantly reduce accidents and enhance the overall safety of the road corridor.
