Georgia's trunk highways form a network of internationally oriented roads that connects the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, home to roughly a third of the national population, with neighboring countries. This is the backbone for a network of domestic trunk roads connecting vital regions with each other and the capital. The total length of the road network in Georgia is 21,100 kilometres (13,100 mi) in 2021. [1] The roads of "international importance" and "national importance" are managed by the Roads Department (Georoad) of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.
The "roads of international importance" are the highest category of roads in Georgia. They are denoted by the prefix ს (Georgian for S), which stands for "საერთაშორისო მნიშვნელობის გზა" (Saertashoriso mnishvnelobis gza, road of international importance). Direction and destination signs in Georgia are in both Georgian and Latin scripts, but the prefix is only displayed in Georgian. Article 3.3 of the law on motor roads [2] defines that:
The network of S trunk roads has a total length of approximately 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) which is mostly built as two-lane highway. About 200 kilometres (120 mi) kilometers of the central east-west S1 and a limited section of the S12 has been upgraded to expressway or motorway with two lanes in each direction. The S4 and S5 trunk routes also have multiple lanes over a limited length.
The S1 and S10 are partially located in South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, over which the Georgian government exercises no authority. At the de facto boundary lines the roads are closed in both directions.
Number | E Route | AH Route | Name | Length (km) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Tbilisi - Senaki - Leselidze | 542.7 | Tbilisi - Surami and Argveta - Samtredia have been (re)built as motorway (170 km). Surami - Argveta via Rikoti Pass is under construction as motorway (58 km). [3] [4] |
![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Senaki - Poti - Sarpi | 119.5 | S2 upgrade is ongoing: the 32 km Kobuleti Bypass has been rebuilt as super-two with 90 km/h speed limit, as will be the 14 km Batumi Bypass. Kobuleti to Grigoleti (S12) is under construction as motorway (14 km). [5] [6] |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Mtskheta - Stepantsminda - Larsi | 139.0 | Also called Georgian Military Road. In 2021 construction started of the 23 km Khveseti - Kobi section to bypass Gudauri and the Jvari Pass with a 2+1 road and a 9 km two-lane tunnel, the longest in the Caucasus. [7] [8] [9] [10] |
![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Tbilisi - Red Bridge | 57.0 | Rustavi - Red Bridge will be rerouted as 32 km motorway, including a new motorway section linking the S4 with the S7 to Armenia. The EU will provide financial support. [11] |
![]() | Tbilisi – Bakurtsikhe – Lagodekhi | 160.0 | Tbilisi (S9) - Sagarejo (35 km) will be constructed as motorway. [12] | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Ponichala – Marneuli – Guguti | 98.0 | |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Marneuli – Sadakhlo | 34.0 | Rebuilding 16 km of the S7 to motorway plus 14 km new motorway to connect with S4 to Rustavi is in preparation. [11] |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Khashuri – Akhaltsikhe – Vale | 97.0 | |
![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Tbilisi Bypass | 49.0 | |
![]() | Gori – Tskhinvali – Gupta – Java – Roki | 92.5 | |||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Akhaltsikhe – Ninotsminda | 112.0 | |
![]() ![]() | ![]() | Samtredia - Lanchkhuti - Grigoleti | 56.2 | The entire S12 is under construction as new motorway. In July 2020 Japana-Lanchkhuti (14 km) opened. [13] Three other sections experience delays (see S12 page). | |
![]() | Akhalkalaki - Kartsakhi | 36.5 | |||
Total: | 1593.4 | Based on the 2022 published list of roads by the Government of Georgia. [14] |
The "roads of domestic importance" are the second category of main roads in Georgia with a total length of 5,460 km (3,390 mi) and connect vital economic, administrative and cultural centers. They are denoted by the prefix შ (Georgian for Sh), which stands for "შიდასახელმწიფოებრივი მნიშვნელობის გზა" (Shidasakhelmts’ipoebrivi mnishvnelobis gza, "road of domestic importance"). The use of the road numbers on direction signs is inconsistent and varies widely, including on trunk Sh roads. The vast majority of routes is relatively short, but some are up to nearly 200 km (120 mi) long with an interregional function. Article 3.4 of the law on motor roads [2] defines roads of domestic importance as:
The quality of Sh-roads varies from excellent to very poor. Since 2006 however, priority has been given to improve regional connections, which has accelerated from 2014 onwards. The quality of the regional road network improves over the years, but large parts remain in mediocre, poor and/or unpaved condition and suffer from harsh climatic conditions, especially in the mountainous areas. The infamous "road to Omalo" (Sh44) to Tusheti National Park is the most extreme example of that.
Number | Name (route) | Length (km) |
---|---|---|
![]() | Orpiri - Tsutskhvati Cave | 10.5 km |
![]() | Gori Tunnel Bypass | 6.1 km |
![]() | Kareli (transport junction ![]() ![]() | 33.6 km |
![]() | Nakhshirghele - Kutaisi - Samtredia | 46.3 km |
![]() | Devdoraki Tunnel Bypass | 1.9 km |
![]() | Gori - Gori Tunnel Bypass | 3.1 km |
![]() | Bakurtsikhe - Gurjaani - Chumlaki (Gurjaani Bypass) | 15.1 km |
![]() | Japana - Lanchkhuti | 13.6 km |
![]() | Sachkhere - Uzunta - Skhmeri - Zudali | 46.9 km |
The tables above are based on the 2022 published list of roads by the Government of Georgia. [14]
For Soviet transportation, see Transport in the Soviet Union.
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The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Georgia in charge of regional and infrastructure development, regulation of activities in sector of Georgia. The ministry is currently headed by Irakli Karseladze.
Georgia's road network plays an important role in both domestic and international traffic with the four neighboring countries. This is expressed in the road numbering system. The country has a network of 13 internationally oriented trunk highways that connect the capital Tbilisi, home to about a third of the national population, with its four neighboring countries. This is also the backbone of a network of domestic oriented national roads connecting vital regions with each other.
The Georgian S1 route, is a "road of international importance" with a registered length of 542.7 kilometres (337.2 mi) within the Georgian classification system, which makes it the longest Georgian highway route. It runs from Tbilisi via Mtskheta, Gori, Khashuri, Zestaponi, Kutaisi, Samtredia, Senaki, Zugdidi, Sukhumi and Gagra to the border with Russia near Leselidze at the northwestern tip of the country, covering in practice 537 kilometres (334 mi). After crossing the Georgia–Russia border in breakaway Abkhazia, the highway continues to Sochi and Krasnodar as A147. It is part of European E60, E97 and E117 routes and Asian Highways AH5, AH81 and AH82, and connects with six other S-routes.
The Georgian route S2, also known as Senaki-Poti-Sarpi , is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network which runs from Senaki via Poti, Kobuleti, and Batumi to the border with Turkey near Sarpi (Adjara) with a length of 119 kilometres (74 mi). After crossing the Georgian-Turkish border the highway continues as D.010 to Trabzon. The S2 highway is part of European E60, E70, E97 and Asian AH5 routes and is mostly built as a 2-lane road through villages, towns and cities. Part of the highway has been upgraded in recent years to a single carriageway with hard shoulder bypassing residential communities.
The Georgian S3 route, also known as Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi or Georgian Military Road, is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network and runs from Mtskheta to the border with Russia near Stepantsminda with a length of 139 kilometres (86 mi). After crossing the Georgian-Russian border the highway continues as A161 to Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia's North Ossetia–Alania federal republic. The highway is the only open land route between Russia and Georgia (country), while routes via Georgian breakaways South Ossetia and Abkhazia are effectively closed for through traffic.
The Georgian S4 route, also known as Tbilisi–Red Bridge or Rustavi Highway, is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network and runs from Tbilisi via Rustavi city to the border with Azerbaijan at the Red Bridge over a distance of 57 kilometres (35 mi). After crossing the Georgian-Azerbaijan border the highway continues as M2 to Ganja and Baku.
The Georgian S5 route, also known as Tbilisi-Bakurtsikhe-Lagodekhi or Kakheti Highway, is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network and runs from Tbilisi via Sagarejo and Bakurtsikhe to the border with Azerbaijan near Lagodekhi over a distance of 160 kilometres (99 mi). After crossing the Georgian-Azerbaijan border the highway continues as M5 to Zagatala and Yevlakh. The S5 highway is one of the two Georgian S-highways that is not part of the European or Asian international highway routes. Within the Georgian S-network it connects with the S9 Tbilisi Bypass.
The Georgian S6 route, also known as Ponichala–Marneuli–Guguti , is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network and runs from Ponichala in Tbilisi via Marneuli and Bolnisi to the border with Armenia near Guguti over a distance of 98 kilometres (61 mi). After crossing the Georgian-Armenian border the highway continues as M3 to Vanadzor and Ashtarak, northwest of Yerevan.
The Georgian S7 route, also known as Marneuli–Sadakhlo , is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network and runs from Marneuli to the border with Armenia near Sadakhlo over a distance of 34 kilometres (21 mi), making it the shortest S-highway in Georgia. After crossing the Georgian-Armenian border the highway continues as M6 to Vanadzor, Armenia's third largest city.
The Georgian S8 route, also known as Khashuri–Akhaltsikhe-Vale , is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian system and runs from Khashuri via Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe to the border with Turkey near Vale over a distance of 97 kilometres (60 mi). After crossing the Georgia–Turkey border the highway continues as D955 to Ardahan. The S8 is a two lane road and is part of European route E691 between Akhaltsikhe and the Turkish border, and part of the Asian Highway AH82 between Khashuri and Akhaltsikhe. It connects with the Georgian S11 highway in Akhaltsikhe. The road is mostly located in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region, while its Khashuri segment is located in the Shida Kartli region. The S8 highway route follows the Kura river through its gorge until Akhaltsikhe and reaches a maximum altitude of 1230 metres (4040 ft) above sea level at the Georgia–Turkey border.
The Georgian S9 route, also known as Tbilisi Bypass, is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network with a length of 49 kilometres (30 mi) and runs in a wide curve around the East side of Tbilisi between the S1 Highway near Mtskheta) to the S4 Highway near Rustavi. The bypass intersects with the S5 "Kakheti Highway" near the Tbilisi International Airport and is part of the European E60 and Asian AH5 and AH81 routes. Transit traffic is mandated to take the bypass around Tbilisi.
The Georgian S10 route, also known as "Gori-Tskhinvali-Gupta-Java-Roki ", is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network from Gori via Tskhinvali to the Russian border at the Roki Tunnel with a length of 92.5 kilometres (57.5 mi). After crossing the Russian border the road continues as A164 highway to Alagir and the R217 "Caucasus Highway". The S10 route, which intersects with the S1 highway just outside of the city of Gori, is often referred to as Transkam or Transcaucasian Highway. It is not part of European or Asian international highway routes.
The Georgian S11 route, also known as Akhaltsikhe - Ninotsminda , is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian system and runs from Akhaltsikhe via Akhalkalaki to the border with Armenia near Ninotsminda covering 112 kilometres (70 mi). After crossing the Georgia–Armenia border the highway continues as M1 to Gyumri, Armenia's second largest city. The entire two-lane S11 is part of the European E691 and Asian AH82 routes and connects with two other Georgian S-highways. The road is located entirely in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region which is geographically an extension of the Armenian Highlands, and reaches a maximum altitude of 2,150 metres (7,050 ft) above sea level without passing any mountain passes. The high altitude plains between Akhalkalaki and the Armenian border have a harsh winter climate, leading to frequent road closures due to high snow.
The Georgian S12 route, also known as Samtredia-Lanchkhuti-Grigoleti, is a 56 kilometres (35 mi) long "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network which branches off the S1 highway in Samtredia and runs to the S2 highway near Grigoleti (Guria). It is part of the main route between Kutaisi and Batumi, bypassing the Black Sea port Poti. Within the European E-road network it is referred to as E692. Most of the S12 is a two-lane road through villages and towns, while a limited part is a motorway since 2020. Upgrading the entire S12 to a four lane motorway is work in progress but experiences severe delays.
The S13 route, also known as "Akhalkalaki-Kartsakhi", is a 36.5 kilometres (22.7 mi) highway route of "international importance" in southern Georgia from Akhalkalaki to the Turkish border near Kartsakhi. The route branches off from the S11/E691 highway on the northside of Akhalkalaki. It is a simple (two-lane) asphalt road through the highlands that are characteristic for the Samtskhe–Javakheti region. The road starts at 1700 m (5600 ft) above sea level and gradually climbs to 1970 m (6460 ft) before reaching the Turkish border at 1820 m (5970 ft), the 3rd highest border checkpoint in Georgia next to Georgia's 2nd largest lake. After the Turkish border, the road continues to the Turkish D010 at Çıldır. It is the shortest route from Armenia to Turkey, shortcutting the E691 route.