Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 13 May, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation detailing the current progress and future initiatives in the road infrastructure sector.

The presentation highlighted that, following a presidential decree issued on 10 October 2023, structural reforms have been implemented in the sector, with long-term goals set for the construction, repair, and maintenance of road networks. Over the past two years, 26 trillion Uzbek soums have been allocated to the sector, resulting in the repair of more than 40,000 kilometers of roads and 540 bridges. Foreign investment in the sector has tripled.

Despite these achievements, the scope of upcoming tasks remains substantial. In 2025, plans include the construction and repair of 7,000 kilometers of public roads, the reconstruction of 231 bridges, the gravel surfacing of 13,000 kilometers of dirt roads, the construction of 400 kilometers of concrete roads, and the establishment of 72 modern service complexes along transport corridors.

During the presentation, representatives of relevant agencies provided updates on the preparation and implementation of upcoming projects, with special emphasis on the current state of the road network and traffic intensity on specific sections.

Six major infrastructure projects covering the reconstruction of 1,200 kilometers of roads are currently being implemented in collaboration with international financial institutions. Four additional large-scale projects are expected to be launched in the near future.

These include rerouting the A-380 highway outside the populated areas of Tortkul and Beruni, repairing 516 kilometers of roads in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Khorezm region, and constructing concrete roads along the Termez–Denau and Syrdarya–Bakht routes.

Funding sources for these projects include the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The President emphasized the importance of ensuring proper maintenance and operation of the road infrastructure and instructed authorities to accelerate the development of roadside services to create comfortable conditions for drivers and passengers.

Among the initiatives already implemented is the launch of a permanent weigh station at the Kamchik Pass. Similar control points are planned for other sections with heavy freight traffic.

It was noted that the current Law “On Roads,” adopted nearly two decades ago, no longer meets today’s requirements. Work is underway on a new version of the law.

The new legislation will formalize the principle of “road activity planning,” allowing for better alignment with the needs of the economy and population. Innovations will include mandatory consideration of public opinion, environmental impact assessments, the creation of barrier-free environments, and compensation for damage caused to road surfaces during the installation of utility infrastructure.

The draft law will also introduce legal regulations for toll roads, standards for the placement of roadside service facilities, and rules for operating heavy and oversized transport.

Finally, progress reports were heard on alternative road construction projects being implemented under public-private partnership mechanisms.