ArmInfo.The construction work of the International North-South Transport Corridor project i (INSTC) in Syunik moves to a practical phase.
This is stated in a video published by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Armenia on its official Facebook page. In particular, as noted, we are talking about the most complex and expensive section of the INSTC - Sisian- Kajaran (Tranche-4) with a length of 60 km, the total cost of which is estimated at $ 1 billion. On this section will be built: 27 bridges with a total length of 4.7 km, and 9 tunnels - with a total mileage - 12.5 km, one of which will be the longest in Armenia (8 km long).
Despite the difficult terrain of this section, it will be possible to develop a speed of up to 100 km/h on this route. According to those responsible, there will be a road of the 2nd technical category, which will reduce the duration of the journey by about 2 hours.
The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures noted that today 23 international construction companies are awaiting the results of a tender to start construction work. The winning company undertakes to commission the Sisian-Kajaran road after 6 years. Financing is provided by the Asian Development Bank, the EU, with co-financing from the Armenian government.
The North-South project will reduce the distance from the Iranian border 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 the territory of Armenia (Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-Ashtarak-Gyumri-Bavra) and Georgia. The corridor was initially scheduled to be completed in 2019. The cost of the program was constantly revised. In September 2012, when the construction of the highway began, the amount indicated by the representatives of the RA government was several times less than the current amount - 962 million dollars, today we are talking about investments of about 3 billion dollars.
