Armenia and Georgia discussed "Friendship" border bridge construction  project 

ArmInfo.Organizational issues related to the construction of the "Friendship" bridge on the Armenian-Georgian border were the subject of discussions that took  place in Tbilisi yesterday between the acting Director General of the  Organization for the Implementation of Transport Programs SNCO Vazgen  Petrosyan and First Deputy Minister of Regional Development and  Infrastructure of Georgia Irakli Karselidze.

According to the press service of SNCO, during the meeting the  parties presented transport projects implemented in their countries,  discussed the possibility of using innovative solutions. Vazgen  Petrosyan and Irakli Karselidze agreed on close cooperation on the  exchange of experience in the construction of roads and their  restoration.  To note, the "Friendship" bridge will be four-lane,  which will make it possible to increase the volume of freight traffic  between the two countries and improve the quality of passenger  service. The new infrastructure project will also save carriers'  time. Earlier, ArmInfo, citing the Department of Highways of the  Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia,  reported the beginning of construction of the Friendship bridge on  the Georgian-Armenian border beginning in May of this year  (Sadakhlo-Bagratashen). The ministry reported that a construction  company had already been selected, which would build the bridge and  the inspection company is now being selected. "The Friendship Bridge  is being built with the support of the governments of Armenia and  Georgia. The project is financed by the European Bank for  Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which allocated EUR 6 million  for its implementation." The project to build a common bridge is  unique for the region: one part of the bridge will be in Georgia, and  the second in Armenia. The parties also shared financing - Armenia  will pay 50% of the loan, and Georgia will pay the remaining 50%,  "the new bridge will allow motorists to move freely along the  East-West and North-South transit corridors without hindrance.  To  recall, the agreement on the construction of the "Friendship Bridge"  between Armenia and Georgia was signed on December 24, 2014. Prior to  that on November 23, 2012, Armenia and the European Bank for  Reconstruction and Development signed an agreement on financing the  construction of a new bridge on the main border check point between  Armenia and Georgia. The project's cost for the Armenian side will be  3 million euro. The loan will be provided for a period of 15 years,  of which the first three years will be preferential with a floating  interest rate for each tranche separately for each half year. As a  result of the program the passing of people through the checkpoint  will be reduced from 15 minutes to 5 minutes, and cargo from 75  minutes to 25 minutes.