Uzbekistan's First Toll Road to Open in August

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan's first toll road, linking Urgench and Khiva, is expected to open in August, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on 22 July during the ceremony marking the start of construction of the Tashkent-Samarkand motorway.

The president said construction of the country's first toll road is nearing completion. The route will form part of the region's tourism infrastructure and will serve local residents as well as domestic and international tourists.

According to the Committee for Roads, construction of the 35-kilometre motorway was 80% complete as of 15 July.

Earthworks and foundation construction have been completed along the entire route, while the first asphalt concrete layer has been laid on 25 kilometres. The project also includes 15 bridges, one tunnel, five underpasses and 101 drainage structures.

Construction of the four-lane motorway, valued at US$120 million, began in February. The new road will serve as an alternative to the existing D215 Khiva highway. Travel time between Urgench and Khiva is expected to be reduced from 60 minutes to 17 minutes, while the road's capacity is projected to exceed 20,000 vehicles per day.

Mirziyoyev also said the international tender for the construction of the Tashkent-Andijan toll motorway is in its final stage.

The project envisages a 314-kilometre motorway linking the capital with the Ferghana Valley. The first phase includes construction of the 171-kilometre Tashkent-Angren-Kamchik Pass section, including 33 kilometres of new tunnels.

The first phase of the project was previously estimated at US$3.66 billion. Once completed, travel time between Tashkent and Andijan is expected to be reduced from 5-5.5 hours to 2-2.5 hours.

The project is being implemented with the support of the World Bank, while international company Arup is responsible for the design work and tender procedures.

The president also announced that the design of the Tashkent-Charvak toll road has been completed.

According to Mirziyoyev, a private partner is currently being selected, after which practical implementation of the project will begin.

The new six-lane, 52-kilometre motorway will connect New Tashkent with the Charvak Reservoir.

It will be designed for speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour and is expected to reduce travel time from 80 minutes to 35 minutes. The project is also intended to ease traffic congestion on the existing road to one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.

Mirziyoyev added that, alongside these projects, Uzbekistan plans to accelerate the implementation of major road infrastructure initiatives in the Kashkadarya, Namangan, Bukhara and Surkhandarya regions.