Kazakhstan has begun construction of a new highway bypassing the city of Saryagash in the Turkistan region. The project is expected to improve transport links in southern Kazakhstan and support transit along international routes.
Saryagash is located in southern Kazakhstan near the Kazakh-Uzbek border, approximately 20 km from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The Saryagash Bypass Road is designed to redirect transit traffic away from urban areas, reduce congestion within the city, shorten travel times, and facilitate faster passenger and cargo movement toward Uzbekistan.
The project involves the construction of a 102.6 km modern four-lane highway, aimed at supporting cross-border trade and reinforcing the Turkistan region’s role as a key transport hub on international corridors.
In September 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a sovereign-guaranteed loan of $400 million to KazAvtoZhol National Company for the construction of the bypass road.
“The Saryagash Bypass Road will strengthen Kazakhstan’s trade and transport links within the region and with external markets in East Asia and Western Europe, helping unlock the country’s potential as a key transit hub,” said Utsav Kumar, ADB Country Director for Kazakhstan. “The project will contribute to the economic development of the Turkistan region by improving access to larger markets, reducing congestion, creating jobs, and promoting tourism.”
The highway will improve links between Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridors 3 and 6, key trade routes connecting Kazakhstan with neighboring countries. The CAREC Program, supported by the Asian Development Bank, brings together regional countries and development partners to promote economic growth and sustainable development.
In addition to the bypass project, road network modernization is ongoing in the Turkistan region, according to the Ministry of Transport. Five road repair projects with a combined length of 99.2 km are currently underway, including the reconstruction of interchanges and bridges on key routes connecting Kazakhstan with neighboring states.
These initiatives are expected to increase transit capacity and improve cross-border transport flows.
