Batumi–Sarpi Bypass Construction: 809M+ GEL Project Enters Implementation Phase
The new Batumi – Sarpi highway project is moving from the contract signing stage directly into implementation. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Georgia, the contract for the construction of the 11.3 km road was signed on 9 September 2026 with the winner of an international tender — China Railway Tunnel Group Co., Ltd (CRTG).
The project value exceeds 809 million GEL, with a construction timeline set at 48 months. This section of the Batumi – Sarpi bypass has already been added to the list of ongoing projects of the Roads Department.
What Stage Is the Construction At?
The Roads Department announced the international tender for the construction of the Batumi – Sarpi highway on 5 November 2025. The deadline for submitting tender bids was set for 22 December 2025. The project is planned to be implemented through co-financing from an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan and the state budget of Georgia.
On 9 September 2026, the construction contract signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Infrastructure. The document was signed by Salome Tsurtsumia, Deputy Chair of the Roads Department, and Liang Hongjun, representative of the Chinese company.
As Minister of Infrastructure Revaz Sokhadze stated following the signing, the progress of construction works will remain under continuous supervision by the ministry and the Roads Department.
On 18 October, the minister noted that construction of the tunnel in Sarpi would commence in the near future. Furthermore, in a statement on 30 October, the Sarpi tunnel was once again listed among the country's most critical road infrastructure projects.
What Infrastructure Will Be Built?
The project envisages the construction of a two-lane highway with a length of 11.3 km, with a key engineering feature being a 7.6 km road tunnel.
The scope of construction works also includes the erection of three bridges, including a 1.47 km bridge viaduct, and a 500-meter coastal protection structure.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Batumi – Sarpi tunnel will become the second-longest road tunnel in Georgia, following the main Kvesheti – Kobi tunnel.
Under the loan agreement concluded with the Asian Development Bank, the new road will run from the end of the Batumi bypass highway to an area north of the Sarpi border checkpoint. The project also provides for modernizing road infrastructure management systems, building capacity for bridge and tunnel maintenance and servicing, as well as implementing additional road safety measures.
How Will Traffic Flow Change?
The new Batumi – Sarpi highway serves as the final western section of the East – West highway corridor. With its commissioning, the Batumi bypass road will connect directly to the state border between Georgia and Turkey.
One of the primary goals of the project is to redirect international and transit traffic away from the densely populated seaside resort zone of Adjara onto the new highway.
This is particularly critical given the existing traffic load towards Gonio, Kvariati, and Sarpi. The new infrastructure will relieve the current road, enhance traffic safety, and minimize issues created by transit flows in resort areas.
According to information from the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara from January 2026, travel time from the Khelvachauri municipality to Sarpi will be cut by approximately 25–30 minutes once the project is completed.
Significance for the Middle Corridor
The construction of the Batumi – Sarpi section is not merely a regional road project. Its implementation represents a vital component in the development of Georgia's East – West transport corridor and the expansion of the Middle Corridor's transit capacity.
The new road will facilitate freight transport between Georgia and Turkey, remove transit congestion from the inhabited coastal strip, and improve international automotive connectivity.
According to ADB assessments, the project aims to improve the efficiency of road transport along Corridor 2 of the CAREC program and the East – West highway. Consequently, completing the Batumi – Sarpi section holds strategic significance both for reinforcing Georgia's transit and logistics role, and for unlocking the tourism and economic potential of Adjara.