The process of restoring the Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian border caused  discontent among local residents and drivers

ArmInfo.The project to restore and modernize the interstate highway  Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian border (M-6) caused discontent among local  residents and drivers who faced a number of problems.

As reported on January 22 by the press service of the Ministry of  Transport, Communications and Information Technologies of the  Republic of Armenia, the second stage of the road reconstruction is  currently being carried out on the road. Work contracts were signed  on November 30, 2017. Works must be completed within 900 days from  the start of work, which was launched on May 29, 2018. The program  provides for the implementation of full-scale earthworks and  drilling, to erect engineering structures, to reconstruct the  drainage system, sidewalks, roads, etc. However, due to the lack of  alternative roads, road construction works are carried out in  parallel with heavy traffic. Despite the provision of alternative  sites, carriers continue to use the road on which construction work  is being carried out. All this led to the fact that the construction  work on demolition and removal of the road cover in the sections of  750 meters from Sanahin to Baghramyan were completed, and their  restoration due to adverse weather conditions had not yet begun. At  present, earthworks and drilling are being conducted in a number of  districts of Alaverdi, and the restoration of the section from  Sanahin to Baghramian will begin with the optimum humidity of the  earth and favorable weather conditions. In order to ensure road  cross-country builders regularly carry out repair work. "The ministry  and authorities take appropriate measures to minimize inconvenience,  and apologizes to the public and drivers," the agency said in a  statement.

To recall, for the project implementation, Armenia raised 51 million  euros from the European Investment Bank and $ 50 million from the  Asian Development Bank. Credit resources will be spent on repairing  92 kilometers of the road. In addition, three tunnels will be  repaired, built in Soviet times, as well as 12 obsolete bridges. The  project consultant is the French Safege Company. The restoration of  the M-6 highway will significantly reduce the travel time between  Armenia and Georgia, establishing an efficient traffic flow and  increasing the level of services. It is expected that these changes  will contribute to improving the level of safety on the country's  roads. According to the Ministry of Transport, this section of the  road accounts for about 60% of the intensity of cargo transportation  from Armenia.