On September 26, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $360 million loan to support the final upgrade of Georgia’s East–West Highway, strengthening the country’s regional connectivity and road infrastructure.

The funding will finance the construction of the last key section of the highway—an 11-kilometer stretch from the Batumi bypass to the Sarpi border crossing with Türkiye. Built to Trans-European Motorway standards, the new road will offer a climate-resilient route, featuring inland realignment to avoid coastal climate risks, along with slope stabilization, rockfall protection, drainage improvements, and 500 meters of coastal defense along the Black Sea.

This project marks a significant milestone in ADB’s long-standing support for Georgia’s road sector, expanding on earlier investments such as the Kobuleti and Batumi bypasses, the North–South Corridor (Kvesheti–Kobi highway), and improvements to secondary roads. Together, ADB’s investments in Georgia’s road infrastructure now exceed $1.1 billion.

“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,” said Lesley Bearman Lahm, ADB Country Director for Georgia. “The Batumi–Sarpi road completes the last-mile connectivity in Georgia’s road network and will strengthen the country’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub.”

The new road is part of the broader Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor 2, a key trade route that runs through Georgia. By enhancing cross-border access with Türkiye, the project is expected to elevate Georgia’s profile as a strategic partner for regional and international trade, driving economic opportunities throughout the country.

Beyond infrastructure, the project will support the Roads Department of Georgia in modernizing its road asset management systems, promoting a shift toward low-carbon transport, and enhancing road safety. It will also strengthen quality control in the transport sector by providing training and advanced testing equipment to the Bridge Laboratory at Georgian Technical University.

Since 2007, ADB has provided over $5 billion in loans, grants, and technical assistance to Georgia, making it one of the country’s largest multilateral development partners. ADB’s current five-year partnership strategy aims to position Georgia as a green, inclusive, and well-connected regional gateway, supporting public and private investments, policy reforms, and resilient infrastructure development.