S-7 (Georgia)
S7 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| საერთაშორისო 7 | ||||
| Marneuli–Sadakhlo | ||||
 | ||||
| Route information | ||||
Part of   | ||||
| Length | 34 km[1] (21 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| North end | Marneuli  ( ) | |||
 Sh161 to Red Bridge   Sh37 to Akhkerpi  | ||||
| South end | Armenian border (Sadakhlo)  () | |||
| Location | ||||
| Georgia | ||||
| Municipalities | Marneuli | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
The S-7 route (Georgian: საერთაშორისო მნიშვნელობის გზა ს-7, Saertashoriso mnishvnelobis gza S-7, road of international importance S-7), also known as Marneuli–Sadakhlo (Armenian border), is a 34 kilometers (21 mi) long "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network.[1] The two-lane highway branches off the S-6 in Marneuli and runs in a Southern direction to the border with Armenia near Sadakhlo.
The highway is located in Marneuli Municipality of the Kvemo Kartli region and is entirely part of the European E001 and the Asian AH81. After the Georgian-Armenian border the highway continues as M6 to Vanadzor, Armenia's third largest city.
Route description
The S-7 is the shortest S-highway in Georgia and begins in Marneuli at the central roundabout junction, where it branches off the S-6 highway. From this junction the road runs in a southern direction out of the city and crosses the now defunct Marneuli-Bolnisi-Kazreti railway line. The highway runs parallel to the Tbilisi-Yerevan railway line, which originally opened in 1899, through the Marneuli Plains to the Sadakhlo border crossing, passing a string of villages along the way.
In Shulaveri state route Sh161 provides a shortcut to the Red Bridge border crossing with Azerbaijan and the S-4 highway. More than 80% of the population of Marneuli Municipality is of Azeri ethnicity, hence the connectivity with Azerbaijan. In the town of Sadakhlo, just a few kilometers from the Armenian border, state route Sh37 leads to the small and fourth Georgian-Armenian border crossing in Akhkerpi.
History
The S-7 is the most popular route to travel between Tbilisi and Yerevan, offering alternative routes within Armenia to Yerevan. From the early 1980s to 1996 the current S-7 route was referred to as A310 within the Soviet road network which extended into the Armenian SSR. At its Marneuli terminus the A310 connected with the A304 highway, currently the Georgian S-6. 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. The Georgian section of the A310 was renumbered as "S-7 Marneuli–Sadakhlo (Armenian border)".[3]
Future
The S-7 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.[4] Initially, the S-7 was not included in the project, but the need to bypass Marneuli due to increase in Armenia bound traffic and the pending realignment of the southern section of the S-4, which was envisioned within the original scope, made this a logical step.
In 2021 the European Investment Bank provided an additional €106.7 million to Georgia for major upgrades of its East-West Highway.[5] These additional funds were destined for a realignment and upgrade of the S-7 and S-4 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. From here the southern 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) of the S7 to Sadakhlo and the Armenian border will be realigned and rebuild as 2x2 motorway.
Intersections
The route is located in Marneuli Municipality (Kvemo Kartli region) and overlaps entirely with E001 and AH81 routes.
| Municipality | km | mi | Destinations | Route | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marneuli | 0 | 0.0 |  | Algeti Tbilisi Tsalka Bolnisi / Guguti |  () () | Highway to border Armenia | |
| 1 | 0.62 | Crosses Marneuli-Bolnisi-Kazreti railway line (defunct) | |||||
| 1.5 | 0.93 | Marneuli town limits | |||||
| 7 | 4.3 |  | Saimerlo |  | (formerly Orjonikidze) | ||
| 10 | 6.2 | Crosses Khrami River | |||||
| 14 | 8.7 |  | Shaumiani Kulari |  | |||
| 15 | 9.3 | | Tsiteli Khidi (Red Bridge) | | Road to border Azerbaijan | ||
| 29 | 18 | Crosses Banovcha river (70m) | |||||
| 30 | 19 |  | Akhkerpi | | Road to border Armenia | ||
| 34 | 21 | Armenian border checkpoint. Road continues as  to Vanadzor | |||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||||
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Road numbering systems - Russia". Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Road Sector of Georgia Overview - Presentation at 10th Eastern partnership transport panel" (PDF). Roads Department of Georgia. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "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
Media related to S-7 (Georgia) at Wikimedia Commons
