Road in Dariali Gorge Partially Reopens to Traffic

Traffic moves along partially restored road in the Dariali gorge in the northern mountainous part of Georgia close to the Kazbegi-Zemo Larsi border crossing point with Russia, July 6, 2016. Photo: Georgian Department of Roads

A section of the road in the Dariali gorge at the border crossing point with Russia, damaged by mudflow and flood two weeks ago, has been partly restored, allowing reopening of traffic on July 6, but with restrictions.

Kazbegi-Zemo Larsi, the only border crossing point between Russia and Georgia which is under Tbilisi’s control and which is also the only available land link for Armenia with Russia, was closed on June 23 after a 800-meter long section was swept away by the Tergi river, which changed its course after mudflows from Devdoraki glacier on the slope of Mkinvartsveri (Mount Kazbek).

The traffic is allowed only daytime and is closed from 8pm to 5:30am local time, the Georgian Roads Department said.

The partially restored road cannot handle two-way traffic for cargo trucks and as a result they have to move one direction at a time.

The Department of Roads said that the traffic will be closed in case of “intense precipitation”.

After the closure of traffic on June 23 on this section of the road, where disruptions are not rare, Armenia tried to negotiate with Tbilisi and Moscow reopening of another road linking Georgia and Russia, which runs through breakaway South Ossetia, but differences over the status of the breakaway region thwarted the attempt. 

Armenia’s Minister of Transport and Communication Gagik Beglaryan visited Tbilisi and held talks with Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili on July 5. Traffic via the Dariali gorge, as well as cooperation in development of other transit routes “in accordance with the international standards” were discussed during the meeting, according to the Georgian and Armenian officials.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)