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Strategic Bypass Route Opens in Southern Kyrgyzstan

On December 6, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov inaugurated a new bypass road around Uzgen, a historic city located 56 kilometers northeast of Osh, the largest city in southern Kyrgyzstan. The bypass is designed to alleviate traffic congestion in Uzgen by redirecting vehicles away from the city center. This development is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce travel times, and lower the risk of accidents on the former main route through the city. Construction of the bypass began in January 2024. The project includes two significant bridges: a 197-meter-long bridge spanning the Kara-Darya River and a 77-meter-long bridge over the Jazy River. To address the needs of residents, the project also features underground crossings for pedestrians and livestock and access roads connecting nearby villages. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Japarov emphasized that the Uzgen bypass is Kyrgyzstan’s first infrastructure project completed through a public-private partnership model. He reiterated the government’s dedication to expanding the country’s road network to enhance connectivity and boost logistics capabilities. Japarov also outlined plans for additional road projects, including a proposed 150-kilometer route linking Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, to Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk-Kul. This new route would significantly shorten the current travel distance, providing a faster and more efficient connection between the two destinations. While acknowledging the long-term nature of infrastructure investments, Japarov highlighted their critical importance for national and international development. He encouraged private investors, particularly domestic ones, to participate in upcoming road construction projects. If sufficient local investment is not secured, the government plans to seek foreign partnerships. In his closing remarks, Japarov likened road infrastructure to the "circulatory system" of the state, underlining its fundamental role in driving economic growth. He noted that improved roads enhance regional logistics, foster trade, and promote tourism, all of which are vital for Kyrgyzstan’s development.

Transport Economy Construction Local Economy Infrastructure Development roads

New Road Promised for Kyrgyzstan’s Highest Village

The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan has announced a tender for the construction of a road to Kyrgyzstan's highest village of Zardaly in the Batken oblast. Authorities have set aside 389 million KGS ($4.5 million) for the construction of the 4.2 kilometer road and according to published data, bids will be accepted until October 22 this year. The village of Zardaly is located in the highlands on Kyrgyzstan's border with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. At present, only one narrow, stony road leads to the settlement, accessible only between May to October. With the onset of cold weather, snow makes it impossible to get to the village, and residents are cut off from the outside world. It should be noted that Zardaly lacks cellular communication, the recently installed internet only serves the local school, and there are significant problems with electricity. As a local proverb says, “If there is no urgent business - do not enter Zardaly." On the day prior to the announcement of the tender, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov visited Zardaly by helicopter. Whilst there, he promised residents that a highway would be built in the village in spring 2025, after which electricity would be supplied. He also instructed the presidential administration to solve the issue of cellular communications in the region. In earlier complaints about the situation in the village, Kyrgyzstan's ombudsman said that although Zardaly became a village in 2016, residents still require help accessing medical services and quality education.

Construction Transport China Logistics Infrastructure Development roads

Turkmenistan to Build New High-Speed Highway

The private company "Ojar Asia" has signed a contract with the Eurasian representative office of China's Sino Hydro Bureau 12 Co. Ltd., for the parties to jointly build the Serakhs-Mary-Serkhetabat highway in Turkmenistan. This road will have a length of about 450 kilometers. The highway will be an important element of the country's transport infrastructure, and will improve conditions for foreign trade, including the export of Turkmenistan's natural resources. More than $2 billion in investment from Sino Hydro Bureau will finance it, and Ojar Asia will lead the construction. Turkmenistan is developing road infrastructure to improve transportation links and stimulate its economy. Road projects are strategically important as the country plans to integrate the new highways into international East-West and North-South transportation corridors. This helps increase transit transportation and natural resource exports, which are vital in diversifying an economy traditionally dependent on hydrocarbon exports.

European Union China Infrastructure Infrastructure Development roads International transport Western Europe-Western China.

Kazakhstan’s Longest Road Tunnel Opens on Western Europe – Western China Transport Corridor

On September 12, a new tunnel was opened at the Shakpak Baba pass in Kazakhstan’s southern Turkestan region. As the Kazakh Ministry of Transport reported, it is the longest automobile tunnel in Kazakhstan. The two-lane tunnel is 840 meters long, 11 meters wide, and 8 meters high. Control centers on both sides of the tunnel monitor lighting, ventilation, and traffic lights. The tunnel's opening will facilitate traveling and cargo transportation during winter. At the tunnel's opening ceremony, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport Satzhan Ablaliyev stated: "The opening of this tunnel is an important event for Kazakhstan's transport infrastructure. It will not only improve the region's year-round transport accessibility but will also significantly increase traffic safety in this difficult section. The tunnel will prevent drivers from being trapped in the snow on the Shakpak Baba pass in winter. In addition, the main traffic flow will now be redirected to bypass the village of Shakpak Baba, increasing safety in the village." The tunnel is part of the Kazakh section of the international road transport corridor Western Europe-Western China. With a total length of 8,445 km, the corridor runs 2,233 km through Russia, 2,787 km through Kazakhstan, and 3,425 km through China. In July, Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev announced that in 2024, Kazakhstan planned to repair and construct 12,000 kilometers of road.

roads Transport Environment

Heavy Chinese-Made Trucks Churning Up Kazakhstan’s Roads

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has blamed the premature wear of its roads on heavy Chinese trucks. Some 60 thousand trucks are currently registered in Kazakhstan, including around 40 thousand heavy Chinese-made trucks. The weight of the latter when combined with overloaded cargo hovers around 35-40 tons and thus exceeds the maximum weight of 25 tons permissible on the asphalt roads. As a result, the country’s roads are sustaining serious damage and traffic of concrete mixers and truck cranes of similar weight only exacerbates the problem. Back in December 2022, it became law that all vehicles with a capacity to carry 12 tons pass through specially installed automated weight measurement stations. To ensure more rigid transport control, the ministry plans to significantly increase the number of weight measurement stations. As part of a pilot scheme, six new stations have been installed on the peripheries of Astana this year.

EBRD Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Transport and Logistics roads

EBRD Funds Upgrade of Major Highway in Uzbekistan

On 2 May, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced the allocation of a loan of up to $238 million (€224 million) towards the renovation of around 81 km of the 4R156 road, as well as the construction of a bridge across the Amu Darya River in the Khorezm region of western Uzbekistan. The road is a strategically important section of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridor 2a, linking the region’s administrative centre, Urgench, with the A380 road to Kazakhstan. The loan will transform the current single-carriageway category-II road into a dual-carriageway category-I road, and in addition, help upgrade supporting infrastructure along the 4R156 road. Once completed, the new road with its much-improved throughput capacity, will stimulate both trade and tourism in Khorezm. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso commented: “We are supporting this project because it meets our strategic objectives for Uzbekistan and Central Asia. It is also part of the global transport and logistics infrastructure solutions covered by the European Union’s (EU) Global Gateway initiative.” In January 2024, at the Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity in Brussels, the EBRD expressed its readiness to invest around €1.5 billion in Trans-Caspian Corridor-related infrastructure and associated transport solutions over the next 2-3 years.