Georgia Secures $360m to Complete East-West Highway Link to Türkiye
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given the green light to a $360 million loan aimed at strengthening Georgia’s transport infrastructure and boosting its role as a regional trade hub.
The financing will fund the final missing piece of the country’s East–West Highway, creating a modern, climate-resilient connection to Türkiye via the Sarpi border crossing.
Stretching 11 kilometres between the Batumi bypass and Sarpi, the project is designed to meet Trans-European Motorway standards. It represents the last mile in a highway corridor that has been decades in the making, cementing Georgia’s role as a crucial trade and logistics partner in the wider Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) network.
Enhancing resilience along the Black Sea coast
Unlike existing routes, the new inland alignment will steer clear of climate-related hazards along the Black Sea. Engineers are incorporating slope stabilisation, rockfall protection, and enhanced drainage systems to address the risks posed by erosion and extreme weather events. Coastal defences will also be built along 500 metres of shoreline to safeguard the infrastructure against sea-level rise and storms.
ADB Country Director for Georgia, Lesley Bearman Lahm, underlined the project’s significance: “ADB has been supporting the Government of Georgia’s national strategy on improving road infrastructure for more than a decade, and we are proud to see the tangible results. The Batumi–Sarpi road that completes the last-mile connectivity in Georgia’s road network will enhance the country’s regional position as a preferred route for trade and logistics across the region and create more economic opportunities for the people of Georgia.”
A decade of investment and support
The new project finance loan builds on ADB’s longstanding commitment to Georgia’s infrastructure development. Over the past decade, ADB has poured more than $1.1 billion into projects including the Kobuleti and Batumi bypasses, upgrades to the East–West Highway, the ongoing Kvesheti–Kobi North–South Corridor, and improvements to secondary roads. These investments have not only delivered physical infrastructure but also bolstered the Roads Department’s ability to manage procurement, safeguards, and project delivery.
Since 2007, ADB has channelled $5 billion into Georgia through loans, grants, and technical assistance, making it one of the nation’s most significant multilateral development partners. Its current five-year country partnership strategy aims to position Georgia as a green, inclusive gateway connecting Europe and Asia.
Linking Georgia to regional trade corridors
The Batumi–Sarpi road is more than a domestic project. It strengthens CAREC’s Corridor 2, which threads through Georgia to connect Central Asia with Europe. As a result, the country will become a more attractive transit point for goods moving between Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Improved logistics will not only enhance Georgia’s standing as a reliable regional hub but also encourage foreign investment in industries reliant on efficient supply chains. By facilitating trade with Türkiye, one of Georgia’s largest economic partners, the project will deepen cross-border economic ties and strengthen regional integration.
Driving low-carbon growth and road safety
Beyond asphalt and concrete, the ADB project includes critical institutional upgrades. The Roads Department of Georgia will receive support to modernise its asset management systems, enabling data-driven maintenance and decision-making. This aligns with the country’s broader push towards a low-carbon economy, ensuring that investments in roads do not come at the expense of sustainability.
Road safety is another central pillar. Awareness campaigns and training programmes will be launched to reduce accidents, while the Georgian Technical University’s Bridge Laboratory will be equipped with new testing tools and training resources to strengthen quality control in the transport sector.
Building a future-ready infrastructure network
The project dovetails with Georgia’s national development goals, which emphasise green growth, resilience, and regional integration. With backing from ADB, the country is not just laying down roads but building a future-ready infrastructure network capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
ADB’s track record in Georgia underscores its long-term vision. By combining large-scale infrastructure finance with policy reforms, institutional support, and technical assistance, the bank is helping Georgia move towards becoming a dynamic, inclusive regional gateway.
A stronger regional gateway for tomorrow
Georgia’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has always been a source of opportunity. With the completion of the East–West Highway, that potential is set to be fully unlocked.
The new Batumi–Sarpi road promises not only to improve the flow of goods but also to deliver safer, more resilient, and more sustainable infrastructure for generations to come.
