Roshka-Arkhoti Road Opens for Off-Road Vehicles

The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia is working to rehabilitate the Roshka-Arkhoti motorway in the Dusheti Municipality, connecting the village of Roshka – famous for the Abudelauri Lakes – with the remote border village of Arkhoti. Within the framework of the project, the 28-kilometer road has been completely cut into the mountainside, and off-road vehicles can now travel along it.

Giorgi Shengelia, Executive Director of the Municipal Development Fund, visited the project site. After observing the road construction, Shengelia held a working meeting with the construction company and discussed their progress.

The road starts from the village Roshka in Dusheti municipality and cuts through the Arkhoti pass and the river, continues through the Asa Gorge, and ends in the village of Amgha. Previously, this section was only accessible by foot, and within the framework of the project, the 28 km long, 6 m wide highway has been outlined, and the addition of road-edge structures and bridges is planned. At a height of 3,000 meters above sea level, the area experiences a long, brutal winter, which complicates the working process.

"We are implementing a very important project, where the road never went up and it will be a way to connect Roshka and Arkhoti. A few weeks ago, the infrastructure minister visited the road construction. Unfortunately, at that time the road was not satisfactory, there were some sections to clean and finish. We promised the population to be able to travel with off-road vehicles by [the holiday of] Atengenoba, and we have fulfilled this condition. At this stage, ten units are mobilized, I believe that a large part of the works will be implemented, but the current monitoring left the impression that more efforts are needed to meet the project deadline, "said Shengelia.

Due to the absence of the road, the border village of Arkhoti has been on the verge of complete abandonment for years – currently just four families live there year-round. In addition to its strategic importance, the project is critical for the economic development of the region. The hope is that the road will encourage and facilitate locals to return to the region and increase the tourism potential of Khevsureti.

By Samantha Guthrie

Photo: Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure