The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and a consortium comprising Tez Zhol, Zhagalmai, and DemirBank, have signed agreements to build and maintain a bypass road around the historic town of Uzgen in the Osh region of south Kyrgyzstan.
According to EDB’s press office, the project which includes new information technologies for toll road management, aims to improve connectivity in the Osh region, enhance road safety and improve Uzgen’s environment.
The Bishkek–Osh highway, one of the country’s main transport arteries and used by approximately 23,000 vehicles per day, causes serious issues for the densely populated town of Uzgen.
The route through its center impacts the town’s socioeconomic situation by increasing levels of noise and pollution whilst congestion poses risks for pedestrians, exacerbating safety concerns.
The projected timeline for such a large-scale project is 49 years, from 2024 to 2073, and comprising 14.1-km of new roads, three bridges and a toll management system, the estimated cost of its construction is US $29.9 million.
Commenting on the initiative, Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, stated: “The Uzgen Bypass is the first toll road initiative in the Kyrgyz Republic. This project will increase the daily capacity of the Bishkek–Osh road from 8,000 to 12,000 vehicles, create approximately 300 jobs and boost demand for local industrial enterprises such as reinforced concrete and concrete plants. Additionally, it will improve the environmental situation and reduce the load on Uzgen’s roads by diverting traffic to bypass the residential sector.”
