Kyrgyzstan has pushed back the opening of its long-anticipated alternative North-South highway to 2026, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The route was originally slated to open in May 2025, but the timeline has been extended to accommodate additional infrastructure work.
The delay stems from plans to construct two avalanche protection galleries, three overpass bridges, and a 25-kilometer bypass section between the villages of Barpy and Safarovka. The ministry confirmed that all additional construction will be completed by 2026.
The 433-kilometer highway is a strategic transport corridor linking Balykchy in the Issyk-Kul region with Jalal-Abad in the south. Notably, approximately 200 kilometers of the route traverse areas where no roads previously existed.
Key engineering achievements along the route include Kyrgyzstan’s longest tunnel, located at the Kok-Art mountain pass, and two major overpass bridges. Once operational, the highway is expected to cut travel time between Jalal-Abad and Balykchy from 13 hours to just six.
Currently, the only existing route connecting Kyrgyzstan’s northern and southern regions is the Bishkek-Osh highway. The new North-South corridor is expected to dramatically enhance both passenger and freight transportation between the regions, especially in the absence of a direct railway connection.
