ArmInfo. Construction of bypass roads has begun at the Pushin Pass. This was announced by David Khudatyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, at the plenary session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on April 16.
According to him, after the completion of these roads, modernization work on the tunnel itself will begin. Overall, 504 km of roads were repaired and built in 2025, and another 265 km were renovated through subsidy programs. According to laboratory tests conducted by the Roads Department last year, the quality of the constructed roads was monitored and found to meet all international standards. Khudatyan also announced the completion of construction of the road towards Gyumri, which is part of the North-South transport corridor. As part of this program, work was completed on sections of the 34-kilometer Ashtarak-Talin road and an 8-kilometer bypass road around the Agarak archaeological site. A 37-kilometer section of the Lanjik-Gyumri road was also modernized. A motor rally will be held on April 19 to inaugurate this road.
Construction of the 60-kilometer Sisian-Kajaran road on the southern section of the transport corridor is also ongoing. Tendering procedures have begun for this purpose, and 45% of the work on the Kajaran-Agarak road is complete. Two tunnels have been dug on this section, and work is underway on 14 of the 15 bridges.
On March 18 of last year, Armenia and the ADB signed a ?236 million loan agreement for the construction of the southern section of the Sisian-Kajaran road along the North-South Transport Corridor. The agreement envisages the construction of a 27.1-kilometer asphalt concrete road resistant to harsh climate conditions and natural disasters, which will reduce the length of the Sisian-Kajaran road section. This will reduce travel time, increase average vehicle speed, and improve travel comfort and safety. Construction of the new approximately 60-kilometer Sisian- Kajaran road section, including the Bargushat Tunnel, began in 2025. Work will be carried out in three sections: the 27.12-kilometer northern section, the 8.65-kilometer Bargushat Tunnel section, and the 24.25-kilometer southern section. A total of ?708 million in loan funds is expected to be spent on the construction of the three sections of the road section. The new 60-kilometer Sisian- Kajaran road will be of the second technical category. It will traverse difficult mountainous terrain and include 27 bridges with a total length of 4.7 km and 9 tunnels with a total length of 12.5 km (the longest, the Bargushat Tunnel, is approximately 8.6 km long). The prequalification stage of the international tender for this project has been completed, with 23 companies from Europe, China, and other countries submitting bids. Of the EU's overall ?2.6 billion financial assistance package to Armenia over the next five years, ?600 million will be allocated for the construction of the Kajaran-Sisian road. The Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development will provide an additional $200 million, and the ADB has already allocated $500 million. The 60- kilometer section of the road will have a design speed of 80 km/h. The North-South Highway is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of independent Armenia. It will reduce the distance between the Iranian and Georgian borders from 550 to 470 km, speed up transit through the country, and create new logistical opportunities, including the transport of goods from Iran to the Black Sea.
