S-4 (Georgia)

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S4

საერთაშორისო 4 (Georgian)
Tbilisi–Red Bridge
Route information
Part of Tabliczka E60.svgTabliczka E117.svgTabliczka AH5.svgTabliczka AH81.svg
Length57 km[1] (35 mi)
Existed1996–present
Major junctions
North endTbilisi (Tabliczka E117.svg)
Major intersectionsS6-GE.svg to SadakhloArmenia (Tabliczka E117.svgTabliczka AH81.svg)

S9-GE.svg (Tabliczka E60.svgTabliczka AH5.svgTabliczka AH81.svg)
Exit Rustavi
SH163-GE.svg Sh163 to Algeti / Marneuli

SH161-GE.svg Sh161 to Shulaveri
South endRed Bridge (Azerbaijan border)
Azerbaijan AZ-M2.svg (Tabliczka E60.svg)
Location
Georgia
MunicipalitiesTbilisi, Gardabani, Rustavi, Marneuli
Highway system
  • Roads in Georgia
ს 3 ს 5

The S-4 route (Georgian: საერთაშორისო მნიშვნელობის გზა ს-4, Saertashoriso mnishvnelobis gza S-4, road of international importance S-4), also known as TbilisiRed Bridge (Azerbaijan border) or Rustavi Highway, is a 57 kilometers (35 mi) long "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network.[1] The highway runs from Tbilisi via Rustavi city to the Georgian-Azerbaijan border at the Red Bridge.

Most of the S-4 highway is part of the European E60 and Asian AH5, between the S-9 Tbilisi Bypass and Red Bridge. The Tbilisi section of the highway, until the junction with the S-6, is part of the European E117, while the section between the junctions with the S-6 and S-9 is part of the Asian AH81. Furthermore, while starting in the Tbilisi capital region, the road is mostly located in the southern Kvemo Kartli region. After the Georgian-Azerbaijan border the highway continues as M2 to Ganja and Baku.

Route description

North terminus S4 in Tbilisi
Between Rustavi and Tbilisi
Rustavi to Red Bridge

The reference point for the mileage of roads leaving Tbilisi, such as the S-4 highway, is Freedom Square, according to the Georgian "Law on motor roads".[2] But that does not mean Freedom Square is the actual starting point of the highway. In the case of the S-4 the actual starting point is Dimitry Gulia street near the Ortachala Hydropower Plant, about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from Freedom Square.

The speed limit on the motorway section is 90 km/h (56 mph) while it is 70 km/h (43 mph) on the two-lane highway section, with the exception of passage through towns and villages (60 km/h (37 mph), may vary locally) and within Tbilisi city.

Tbilisi - Rustavi

The road begins as a six-lane city thoroughfare South of the centre of Tbilisi. Once the Mtkvari/Kura river bank is reached the S-4 becomes a 2x3 lane city express road with a speed limit of 70 km/h (43 mph). At the entrance of the Ponichala district of Tbilisi, the S-6 highway to Marneuli and Yerevan branches off. A new grade separated bypass for Ponichala is under construction, but till then traffic goes through the densely populated district as a two-lane road.

From the southside of Ponichala the S4 is a grade-separated 2x2 motorway until the city of Rustavi, which is at this point just 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) away. Just before Rustavi the S-9 Tbilisi Bypass joins the S-4. After the Rustavi exit the highway becomes a two-lane highway and remains that way until its terminus at the Azerbaijan border.

Rustavi - Red Bridge

At the south side of Rustavi the highway climbs the plateau rising above the city. The future S-4 motorway route will shortcut the curves here bypassing the highest point in the current route. The S-4 continues from here in a straight southeasterly course to the border with Azerbaijan, through an arid-steppe landscape. The border crossing is named "Red Bridge" (Tsiteli Khidi in Georgian) after the old red-brick bridge arch bridge across the Khrami River between the Georgian and Azerbaijani border posts.

History

The S4 is part of the most popular route to travel between Tbilisi and Baku, and on both sides of the border the roads are being or going to be upgraded to motorway standards. From the early 1980s to 1996 the current S-4 route was entirely part of the M27 Soviet highway route that ran from Novorossiysk via Tbilisi to Baku. Prior to the 1980s the route was unnumbered as was the case with most Soviet roads.[3]

In 1996 the current Georgian classification system was adopted and the S-category "roads of international importance" was introduced as its highest class. The Georgian section of the M27 was cut in different highways. The section from Tbilisi to Red Bridge was renumbered as "S-4 TbilisiRed Bridge (Azerbaijan border)" replaced the M27 designation.[4]

Future

Redesign S4 and S7 highways

The S-4 has been included in the Georgian East-West Highway project, which aims to create a 455 kilometers (283 mi) East-West transport corridor through Georgia connecting Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. Within this project various sections of Georgian highways have been upgraded to motorway to strengthen Georgia's position as South Caucasus transport hub.[5]

Within the scope of the 'East-West Highway', the redesign of the southern part of the S4 highway has been on the agenda for a number of years. In 2021 the European Investment Bank provided an additional €106.7 million to Georgia.[6] These additional funds have been assigned for the upgrade of the S-4 and S-7 highways.

The S-4 will be realigned and constructed as a grade-separated 2x2 motorway between Rustavi and the Red Bridge border crossing with Azerbaijan. Halfway this section, near Didi Mughanlo, a new 2x2 motorway will be constructed in southwestern direction towards the current S-7 at Kvemo Sarali village. It is unknown when construction of this upgrade will commence.

Intersections

RegionMunicipalitykmmi DestinationsRouteNotes
City of Tbilisi31.9 E 117North end E117 overlap
63.7Exit
95.6Right junctionMarneuli / Yerevan (Armenia) ს 6 ( E 117 / AH 81)South end E117 overlap, North end AH81 overlap
127.5MotorwayMotorway section (2x2)
138.1Tbilisi city limits
Kvemo KartliGardabani13.28.2Exit
1711Exit
Rustavi1912InterchangePoti / Batumi ს 9 ( E 60 / AH 5 / AH 81)South end AH81 overlap, North end E60 and AH5 overlap
2113ExitRustavi
21.513.4End of MotorwayContinues south as two lane highway.
Marneuli5031Crosses Algeti River (95m)
5132Right junctionMeore Kesalo შ 164
5735Crosses Khrami River
Right junctionSadakhlo / Armenia Armenia შ 161
Azerbaijan Red Bridge border checkpoint. Road continues as AZ-M2.svg M2 to Baku ( E 60 / AH 5). South end E60/AH5 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b "2014 List of highways of international and domestic importance" (in Georgian). The Legislative Herald of Georgia. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Law "About motor roads", consolidated version of 15 July 2020" (in Georgian). The Legislative Herald of Georgia. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Road numbering systems - Russia". Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  4. ^ "On Approval of Indicators and List for Determination of International, Domestic and Local Roads of Georgia (1996)" (in Georgian). The Legislative Herald of Georgia. 16 December 1996. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Road Sector of Georgia Overview - Presentation at 10th Eastern partnership transport panel" (PDF). Roads Department of Georgia. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Team Europe: EIB provides €106.7 million to Georgia for major upgrades of its East-West highway". European External Action Service. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.

External links