COVEC Selected to Build Tashkent-Samarkand Toll Highway

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — China Overseas Engineering Construction (COVEC) has been selected as the contractor for the construction of the new Tashkent-Samarkand toll highway. The announcement was made on 22 July 2026 during the project's groundbreaking ceremony.

Wang Kun, President of China Overseas Engineering Group, thanked the Uzbek leadership for placing its trust in the company.

He said COVEC intends to deliver the project while meeting occupational safety, construction quality and environmental protection requirements, using modern technologies and green construction principles.

Wang said the new highway would become one of the most modern infrastructure projects in Eurasia and would help improve the efficiency of Uzbekistan's transport and logistics system. He also said President Shavkat Mirziyoyev gave the company a number of instructions during the project presentation, without disclosing their details.

According to the announcement, four Chinese companies expressed interest in the project: China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), China Overseas Engineering Construction (COVEC) and China Railway 20th Bureau Group (CRCC).

COVEC was selected following the evaluation process. It had previously been reported that a Chinese company had won the tender, although its name had not been officially disclosed.

China Overseas Engineering Group was established in 1987 and is part of China Railway Group. The company specialises in international construction and infrastructure projects, operates in 88 countries, and has experience building highways, bridges, tunnels and other transport infrastructure.

Construction of the Tashkent-Samarkand toll highway, valued at about US$2.2 billion, began on 22 July 2026.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev laid the foundation stone for the project in the Urtachirchik district of Tashkent Region.

The 282-kilometre, six-lane highway will connect Tashkent, Syrdarya, Jizzakh and Samarkand regions. The project includes the construction of 92 bridges, 28 overpasses and 60 tunnel crossings. The highway is scheduled to be completed in 2030.

The maximum speed limit on flat sections is expected to be up to 150 km/h. Once completed, the highway is expected to reduce travel time between Tashkent and Samarkand from five hours to two and a half hours, increase capacity to 60,000-80,000 vehicles per day, and reduce freight transportation costs by 20% to 24%.

According to previously announced project parameters, about 85% of the project's cost is expected to be financed through loans from Chinese banks, with the remainder funded by Uzbekistan's state budget.

Toll rates for the new highway are expected to be determined after negotiations with investors, taking into account the population's financial capacity.