On 23 May 2024 the single shield hard rock TBM, manufactured by CREG and named Caucasus, completed the excavation of the 9 km tunnel, connecting the village of Kvesheti with the village of Kobiin, for Lot 1 of the 23km and 2-lane Kvesheti-Kobi highway project: click here for a video.
With a maximum overburden of 1121m, the TBM (diameter 15.08 m, length 182 m, weight 3900 t) completed 8860m of boring with no intermediate access, reaching the maximum daily advance rate of 20m and the maximum monthly advance rate of 426m. The geology is mainly tuff and marl, with a maximum rock strength of 130MPa.
To deal with the complicated geological conditions and the construction challenges brought by long-distance and deep-overburden tunnelling, the hard rock TBM has been customized with active articulation system, bi-directional rotation cutter head, dual speed input reducer, which enables the precise adjustment of main machine attitude, the rapid breakout in adverse ground and also the efficient tunnelling in good surrounding rock. The TBM has a maximum thrust of 22,600t and a total power of 9900kW.
The final works in the 9 km long tunnel - the longest in Georgia - will soon begin and will include excavation, installation of electrical and engineering systems, and road surfacing.
In order to develop Georgia as a tourist hub, the Kvesheti-Kobi project takes into account the construction of a new 5 km road leading to Gudauri. The new road will be provided with all necessary safety standards, and travel time will be reduced. Accordingly, Gudauri resort will be ready to receive more visitors.
The EUR400.37 million (GEL1.2 billion) project is implemented with the financial support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the part of the tunnel construction – with the co-financing of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The Kvesheti-Kobi project, includes the construction of 5 bridges and 5 tunnels and the rehabilitation of 1 bridge. Which will all be completed in stages between 2024-2025. It is the passage that connects Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and other countries. Because of the snowy winter in the Gudauri area, traffic interruptions often occur. Upon the completion, the traffic on the Gudauri section will continue throughout the winter, which can effectively guarantee the transportation of local production goods and daily necessities.
