Japanese Company to Build Tunnel on Kyrgyzstan’s Strategic Bishkek-Osh Highway
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Transport and Communications has signed a contract with Japan’s Takenaka Civil Engineering Co. for the construction of a 750-meter tunnel along the critical Bishkek-Osh highway. The project will be carried out at the highway’s 400-kilometer mark and is scheduled to begin in June 2025. The signing ceremony on April 15 was attended by Kyrgyz Transport and Communications Minister Absattar Syrgabayev, Japanese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hideki Goda, and Kawamoto Hiroyuki, Permanent Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Kyrgyzstan. Minister Syrgabayev expressed gratitude to the Japanese government and JICA for their ongoing support in developing Kyrgyzstan’s transport infrastructure. Strategic Significance The Bishkek-Osh highway is the only overland route linking Kyrgyzstan’s north and south, making it vital to the country’s economic, social, and political cohesion. The 655-kilometer artery cuts through four western regions, Chui, Talas, Jalal-Abad, and Osh, connecting the capital Bishkek with Osh, the country’s second-largest city. In addition to its domestic role, the Bishkek-Osh highway is a key part of several international transport corridors, linking Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. Enhancing the reliability and safety of this route is a top infrastructure priority for the Kyrgyz government. Delays to Alternative Route As reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyz authorities have postponed the opening of the long-anticipated North-South alternative highway to 2026. Originally set for completion in May 2025, the 433-kilometer project has been delayed to allow for additional infrastructure development.
