S-12 (Georgia)

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S12

საერთაშორისო 12 (Georgian)
Samtredia-Lanchkhuti-Grigoleti
Route information
Part of Tabliczka E692.svg
Length56.2 km[1] (34.9 mi)
Existed1996–present
Major junctions
East endSamtredia S1-GE.svgSH204-GE.svg
                (Tabliczka E60.svgTabliczka AH5.svgTabliczka AH81.svg)
Major intersectionsS1-GE.svg S1 to Tbilisi (Tabliczka E60.svgTabliczka AH5.svgTabliczka AH81.svg)

SH13-GE.svg Sh13 to Vani
SH2-GE.svg Sh2 to Ozurgeti
SH3-GE.svg Sh3 to Guleikari
Exit Lanchkhuti

SH82-GE.svg Sh82 to Ozurgeti
West endGrigoleti S2-GE.svg (Tabliczka E70.svgTabliczka E97.svgTabliczka AH5.svg)
Location
Georgia
MunicipalitiesSamtredia, Lanchkhuti
Highway system
  • Roads in Georgia
← ს 11→ ს 13

The S12 route (Georgian: საერთაშორისო მნიშვნელობის გზა ს12, Saertashoriso mnishvnelobis gza S12, road of international importance S12), also known as "Samtredia-Lanchkhuti-Grigoleti", is a 56 kilometers (35 mi) long "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network. The highway branches off the S1 highway in Samtredia and runs West through the Guria region to the Black Sea coast at Grigoleti, where it connects to the S2 highway.[1]

The S12 is part of the trunk route between the Georgian capital Tbilisi and the nation's second largest city Batumi, bypassing the Black Sea port Poti. Within the European E-road network the highway is referred to as E692. The entire S12, originally a two-lane road through villages and towns, is under upgrade to a four lane motorway, while sections of the new highway have been opened for traffic since 2020.

Route description

S12 highway at Dapnari
A motorway section opened in 2020
The S12 through Supsa
West terminus at Grigoleti

The S12 highway begins as a two-lane road in Samtredia, at the junction of the S1 highway to Senaki and the Sh204 to Akhalsopeli. For one kilometer the S12 and the S1 to Tbilisi have a concurrency, until the junction with the S1 motorway. An overpass for the S1 is under construction. The S12 continues its way in southern direction, parallel to the Batumi bound railway line and crosses the Rioni, the largest river of West Georgia. At the the village of Dapnari the highway turns West, following the Rioni valley along the foot of the Guria Range, a hilly extension of the Meskheti mountain range.

The highways passes through various villages. Near Japana the highway joins the newly build motorway for 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) until Lanchkhuti, which opened for traffic in 2020. At Lanchkhuti traffic exits the motorway and transfers through the town back to the old two-lane road. The old S12 road between Japana and Lanchkhuri has been renumbered in Sh208. From Lanchkhuti, the highway navigates along the foot of the Guria Range until the village of Khajalia, where the highway once again joins the newly constructed motorway. Near Grigoleti the motorway section terminates and rejoins the old S12 road shortly before it terminates at the junction with the S2 / E70 highway to Batumi to the south or Poti to the north.

History

Within the Soviet road network classification introduced in the early 1980s, the S12 route was divided over three road mumbers. Between Samtredia and Sajavakho the road was part of the R-7 route which continued to Ozurgeti (Sajavakho - Ozurgeti is currently the Sh2). After Sajavakho the route of the current S12 was numbered as R-26 until Supsa, while the remaining 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) to Grigoleti was numbered R-76. Prior to the 1980s the route was unnumbered as was the case with most Soviet roads.[2]

In 1996 the current Georgian classification system was adopted and the S-category "roads of international importance" was introduced as its highest class. Initially the S12 was recorded as the 56 kilometers (35 mi) long "S12 Samtredia-Lanchkhuti-Ureki",[3] but in later years the west end of the road was determined to be Grigoleti, extending the highway slightly. The S12 highway improves long distance connectivity with Ajara and integrates the Guria region into the Georgian main highway network.

Upgrade to motorway

The S12 route is under major redesign since 2014

After surveys in 2009 and securing financial support in subsequent years,[4] the S12 highway is being upgraded to a motorway over its entire length with two lanes in each direction. The project is divided in four sections.[5] To bypass villages and towns, the new S12 will be newly built a few km north of the original highway. As result of this redesign the highway will be shortened to 51.5 kilometers (32.0 mi). The travel distance to Batumi will be further reduced with 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) by moving the merge with the S2 south via a new bridge across the Supsa. The European Union supports the project with a credit of the European Investment Bank and a grant.[6]

The upgrade is part of the major East-West Highway project to create an international (East-West) transport corridor through Georgia, connecting Azerbaijan and Armenia with Turkey. This includes upgrades to motorway standards of the S1 between Tbilisi and Samtredia, the S2 (motorway/super two) between the S12 and the Turkish border at Sarpi, the S4 between Rustavi and the Azerbaijani border, and the S7 to the Armenian border.

The first new section of the S12, 18.5 kilometers (11.5 mi) (Lot 2) between Japana and Lanchkhuti, was finished in summer 2020, of which 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) opened as motorway.[7] In December 2022, another 9.5 kilometers (5.9 mi) opened (Lot 4). The remaining two lots experienced delays, with various degrees of progress.

Lot From To Length Funding Contractor Construction started Opened Remarks
1 Samtredia Japana 11.5 kilometers (7.1 mi) Jeu Group (GE)[8] July 2014[9] Contracts terminated twice, arbitration cases against Altcom (Ukraine) and Accord (Azerbaijan).[10]
2 Japana Lanchkhuti 18.5 kilometers (11.5 mi) Sinohydro (CN)[8] 2016 18 July 2020 14 km between Japana and Lanchkhuti exits opened in 2020
3 Lanchkhuti Khajalia 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) Chinese Hunan Road & Bridge Construction Group[11] 2018 Contract Todini (Italy) terminated and arbitration case.[10] Construction restarted in 2022.[11]
4 Khajalia Grigoleti 9.5 kilometers (5.9 mi) 23rd China Railway Bureau Group (CN)[8] 2017[12] 10 Dec 2022 The section openend in Dec 2022.[13]
51.5 kilometers (32.0 mi)
1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Under construction
  •      Construction suspended

Delays

As with other major infrastructure projects in Georgia, the S12 upgrade project has been plagued by problems with contracted construction companies from China, Italy, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.[14][15] Contracts for lot 1 and 3 were terminated in 2018[16] and 2020 respectively. For Lot-1 this was the second time. New tender procedures were started in February 2020 (Lot-3)[17] and August 2021 (Lot-1).[18] The authorities had difficulties to find new contractors for Lot 3,[10] but construction restarted in September 2022 after the Chinese Hunan Road & Bridge Construction Group was contracted.[11][19]

Also, problems with obtaining the required land plots after construction contracts were signed, played part in the delay,[20] on top of land deformation in the riverbed of the Rioni.[21] In February 2023, a section of the new bridge over the Rioni near Samtredia collapsed, when a pillar washed away during peak levels after heavy rains, causing further delays for Lot 1.[22]

Arbitration

In May 2022 Georgia's minister of infrastructure updated Parliament on international arbitration cases against contractors which have the primary aim to reclaim millions in prepayments. Cases were initiated against former contractors for Lot-1, Altcom (Ukraine) and Accord (Azerbaijan), and Lot-3, Todini (Italy). According to the Georgian government it won the case against Ukrainian Altcom, which started its work in 2013 and vanished after only 2 kilometer of 11.5 had been laid. The government said it expected Lot-1 to be finished in 2022 by a Georgian company, while Lot-3 was still pending a new contractor. It said Lot-4 would be finished by 2022, with a delay for which it fined Chinese contractor 23rd China Railway Bureau Group.[10] In July 2022 the Georgian government claimed it won the cases against Accord (lot 1) and Todini (lot 3) as well.[23]

Intersections

RegionMunicipalitykmmi DestinationsRouteNotes
ImeretiSamtredia00.0RoundaboutAkhalsopeli
Senaki		SH204-GE.svg
S1-GE.svg  Tabliczka E60.svgTabliczka AH5.svgTabliczka AH82.svgHighway to Russia border via Sokhumi. North end S1 / E60 overlap.
10.62ExitMotorway TbilisiS1 Highway sign (green).svg  Tabliczka E60.svgTabliczka AH5.svgTabliczka AH82.svgSouth end S1 / E60 overlap.
42.5Crosses Rioni River (240m)
53.1RoundaboutVaniSH13-GE.svg
85.0RoundaboutOzurgetiSH2-GE.svg SH20-GE.svg
95.6Crosses Samtredia-Batumi railway line
116.8Crosses the Khevistskhali River
GuriaLanchkhuti159.3Left junctionJapana / Kviani
 		SH208-GE.svgJunction old/new S12
SH3-GE.svgSouth end Sh3 overlap.
169.9RoundaboutGuleikariSH3-GE.svgNorth end Sh3 overlap.
ExitMotorway BatumiS12 Highway sign (green).svgEntrance/exit S12 motorway section
2314ExitNigoiti
3019ExitEnd of Motorway LanchkhutiS12-GE.svgAll traffic exits to old S12 2-lane highway through Lanchkhuti
3824RoundaboutOzurgetiSH82-GE.svg
3924Crosses Samtredia-Batumi railway line
4528RoundaboutSupsaJunction old/new S12
5635ExitEnd of Motorway Lanchkhuti / BatumiS12-GE.svgAll traffic exits to old S12 2-lane highway
5836RoundaboutPoti
 Batumi / Sarpi		S2-GE.svg  Tabliczka E70.svgTabliczka E97.svgTabliczka AH5.svg
S2-GE.svg  Tabliczka E70.svgTabliczka E97.svgTabliczka AH5.svgHighway to Turkey border via Sarpi
The sections km 1-16 and km 30-56 are under construction as motorway which will replace current route (see above "Upgrade to motorway")

References

  1. ^ a b "2022 List of highways of international and domestic importance". The Legislative Herald of Georgia (in Georgian). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  2. ^ "Road numbering systems - Russia". Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  3. ^ "On Approval of Indicators and List for Determination of International, Domestic and Local Roads of Georgia (1996)". The Legislative Herald of Georgia (in Georgian). 16 December 1996. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  4. ^ E-60 მაგისტრალის სამტრედია-გრიგოლეთის მონაკვეთის მოდერნიზაციის პროექტი [Samtredia-Grigoleti section of E-60 highway modernization project]. Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (in Georgian). 2013-11-18. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  5. ^ "Samtredia-Grigoleti Road". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2014. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  6. ^ "Georgia East-West Highway – Samtredia-Grigoleti-Kobuleti Section". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  7. ^ ""Crucial" modern highway nearing completion, set to connect Tbilisi with Batumi". Agenda.ge. 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  8. ^ a b c "Project page Samtredia-Grigoleti highway". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  9. ^ "Construction of four-lane Samtredia-Grigoleti highway begins". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  10. ^ a b c d ""The case of the missing millions" - Georgia wins arbitration dispute with Altcom". Business Magazine Georgia (in Georgian). 25 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  11. ^ a b c "The construction of the 12-kilometer section of the highway will be resumed in Lanchkhuti municipality". Netgazeti (in Georgian). 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  12. ^ "Construction of the 4th section of Samtredia-Grigoleti road is actively ongoing". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  13. ^ აღმოსავლეთ-დასავლეთის მაგისტრალური გზის 15 კმ-იან ახალ მონაკვეთებზე მოძრაობა გაიხსნა [Traffic was opened on new 15 km sections of the East-West highway] (in Georgian). Roads Department of Georgia. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  14. ^ "Problems existing on the 4th section of Samtredia-Grigoleti shall be solved in the shortest possible time". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  15. ^ "The construction of the first section of Samtredia-Grigoleti will continue". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  16. ^ "Ministerial letter to Factcheck" (PDF) (in Georgian). 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  17. ^ "Prequalification Bids for Samtredia-Grigoleti 3rd Section Opened". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  18. ^ "The tender for the construction of the first section of Samtredia-Grigoleti has been re-announced". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (in Georgian). 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  19. ^ "Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Co Ltd in Georgia" (pdf). Civic Idea - China Watch. 2022-12-01. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  20. ^ "Announcement of Roads Department regarding resettlement process at Samtredia-Grigoleti IV section". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  21. ^ "Road projects are stalled. Construction completion deadlines are violated and delayed for months or years". FactCheck. 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  22. ^ "Swollen river damages bridge under highway in Georgia's west". Agenda.ge. 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  23. ^ "The Roads Department has won three disputes in international arbitration in France". Road department Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2022-08-26.

External links

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