ArmInfo. Construction of a second tunnel bypassing the city of Meghri continues in Armenia. This was announced in a statement by the Road Department Foundation.
The statement emphasizes that work is underway on a 32-kilometer section of the Kajaran-Agarak road from north to south. The tunnel is 530 meters long. Boring is complete, and reinforcement work on the internal walls is ongoing. Concreting of the tunnel floor has also begun.
The Kajaran-Agarak section is a key component of the project, the completion of which will improve traffic efficiency, reduce travel times, and strengthen regional connections. Construction work is continuing in compliance with the highest quality and safety standards. The North-South Road Transport Corridor Investment Program is being implemented by the Road Department Foundation. As a reminder, the construction of the 32-kilometer section of the Kajaran-Agarak road in Armenia's Syunik Province is being carried out by an Iranian consortium, specifically Abad Rahan Pars International Group and Tunnel Sadd Ariana. The project is a key part of the North-South Corridor, ensuring rapid construction. It is also worth noting that the new 60-kilometer Sisian-Kajaran road will be of the second technical category. It will traverse challenging mountainous terrain and include 27 bridges with a total length of 4.7 km and nine tunnels with a total length of 12.5 km (the longest, the Bargushat Tunnel, is approximately 8.6 km long). The prequalification stage of the international tender for this project has been completed, with bids submitted by 23 companies from Europe, China, and other countries. Of the EU's overall EUR2.6 billion financial assistance package to Armenia, EUR600 million will be allocated for the construction of the Kajaran-Sisian road over the next five years. The Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development will provide an additional $150 million. The ADB has already allocated $500 million. The 60-kilometer section of the road will have a design speed of 80 km/h.
The North-South project will reduce the distance from the Iranian to the Georgian border from 556 to 490 kilometers. The road will significantly facilitate access to the Black Sea not only for Armenia but also for Iran. The project will provide access to the Black Sea and European countries through Armenia (Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-Ashtarak- Gyumri-Bavra) and Georgia. Construction of the corridor was initially scheduled for completion in 2019. The program's cost has been continually revised upward. In September 2012, when construction of the highway began, the amount quoted by Armenian government representatives was significantly lower - $962 million; today, investments are estimated at approximately $3 billion.
