President Mirziyoyev inaugurates newly built highway

On October 25, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurated a newly constructed 240-kilometer section of the Kungirot-Beyneu highway. The ceremony, held to mark the occasion, highlighted the strategic importance of this road, which connects Uzbekistan to European countries.

The project was modernized and reconstructed between 2021 and 2024, costing $323 million, to overcome challenges posed by the harsh continental climate of Aral Bay.

In his address, President Mirziyoyev emphasized the significance of the highway:

"With this new road, international transportation distances from our country will now be reduced by up to 1,000 kilometers, leading to a 25% reduction in transportation costs. This route will serve as a reliable logistics network, connecting Uzbekistan to European markets via the Caspian and Black Sea ports. Another important aspect is that the daily traffic along the international corridor 'A-380,' which passes through Uzbekistan, will increase threefold," he stated.

Previously, other sections of the Guzor-Bukhara-Nukus-Beineu international highway were repaired, and a new bridge over the Amudarya connecting Karakalpakstan and Khorezm was opened on February 29 of this year.

The newly built section is expected to stimulate the development of more than 200 trade and service facilities and industrial enterprises. This will lead to the creation of 2,000 jobs initially, with an additional 5,000 expected in the future. Consequently, it is anticipated that Karakalpakstan’s transit services will generate $200 million annually, while Uzbekistan's exports will increase by at least $300 million.

The highway will improve the lives of over 1 million residents in districts such as Tortkol, Ellikkala, Beruniy, Nukus, Khojaly, Shumanay, Qonlikol, Karaozak, and Kungirot.

During the ceremony, the President expressed gratitude to the builders, contractors, and consultants from the Asian Development Bank, Turkey, Azerbaijan, China, South Korea, and Italy who contributed to the project.

"Building roads and bridges to shorten distances and ease people's hardships is one of the most commendable deeds. We see such noble, hardworking individuals as the creators of highways, who receive blessings and gratitude from the people. May our good works, which enhance the economic potential of a new Uzbekistan and improve the well-being of our citizens, continue to flourish," said President Mirziyoyev.

The ceremony also included a telebridge connecting the Kungirot district of Karakalpakstan and the "Davud ota" customs post. President Mirziyoyev gave his official approval for the road's opening and congratulated everyone on this momentous occasion.

Government officials and public representatives were also in attendance.

At the event, a monitoring system for engineering facilities was presented to the President. This system involves the installation of electronic transmitters on bridges, enabling continuous monitoring of their structural integrity. Unlike traditional fixed-interval inspections, this method allows for real-time monitoring. Any deviations from the norm are detected quickly, ensuring timely interventions to maintain the long-term safety of the bridges.

Additionally, the system will help save costs by digitizing approximately 20 types of paper reports, with monitoring data stored for up to 30 years.

The first implementation of this project was on the new overpass on Babur Street, which leads to Tashkent International Airport. Officially opened during the ceremony, the overpass is 702 meters long and 46 meters wide, featuring two circles and four arc-shaped wings connected to the Small Ring Road and Sadiq Tolipov streets. This configuration allows smoother traffic flow, eliminating the need for vehicles to make U-turns. The transport link can handle up to 5,000 cars per hour and 132,000 cars overnight.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of implementing this monitoring system on 114 bridges in Tashkent, with plans to expand it to all bridges nationwide.

Over the next eight years, 2,000 kilometers of roads have been rebuilt, and repairs have been completed on an additional 100,000 kilometers. New types of polymer-concrete and cement-concrete coatings are now widely used, extending road service life by up to 1.5 times. In collaboration with foreign companies, 10 major projects are set to begin next year, adding another 1,000 kilometers of roads.