ADB allocates $250 million in loans to Georgia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million loan to support the construction of the Tbilisi Bypass Road, a project of strategic importance for Georgia.

According to Report's Georgian bureau, citing ADB, the project involves building an 18.9 km four-lane section of the bypass road, considered a key part of the East–West Highway. The new route is expected to ease traffic congestion in Tbilisi, improve passenger and freight transport efficiency, and streamline traffic flow around the capital.

The allocated funds will cover construction of the Tbilisi Airport–Lochini (Lot 4) and Lochini–Rustavi (Lot 5) sections, as well as access and service roads.

ADB's Country Director for Georgia, Lesley Bearman Lahm, emphasized that Georgia's location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia creates significant potential to become a regional transport hub. She noted that the bypass road will reduce traffic density, enhance freight efficiency, and strengthen Georgia's logistics capacity.

The project also contributes to the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program's second transport corridor, boosting freight efficiency and Georgia's integration into regional and global markets.

This loan is part of ADB's broader financial support exceeding $2.3 billion for Georgia's major infrastructure projects, including the East–West Highway, Kobuleti and Batumi bypass roads, the Kvesheti–Kobi highway, and the Batumi–Sarpi road.

Since 2007, ADB has provided Georgia with nearly $6 billion in loans, grants, and technical assistance. Its five-year strategy focuses on making Georgia a green, inclusive, and resilient regional transport hub, while strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure and regional integration.