A media tour has started on the Toghanali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway, APA's local bureau reports.
Journalists got acquainted with the work being carried out in the tunnel.
Media representatives were informed about the work carried out on the Toghanali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway on August 21 by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of this road in August 2021.
Note that based on the instructions of the head of our state, one of the most important infrastructure projects being implemented in the economic regions of Karabakh and East Zangazur is the Toghanali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway, which is 82 kilometers long. Of this road, 56 kilometers cover the Toghanali-Kalbajar section, and 26 kilometers cover the Kalbajar-Istisu section.
The Murovdag mountain range begins at the 13.5th kilometer of the highway. Thus, the most important part of the road passes through the Murovdag range. Here, the elevation increases from 1,700 meters to 3,250 meters. In order to ensure the safe operation of the highway during the winter season, the construction of a tunnel under the Murovdag range was deemed appropriate. The Murovdag tunnel is one of the longest road tunnels in the world. In terms of length, this tunnel ranks 18th in the world, 5th in Europe, and 1st among CIS countries. The tunnel will have 4 lanes, with two outgoing and two incoming. Excavation work, as well as the construction of 38 cross-passages connecting the right and left sections of the tunnel, has already been completed. Within the framework of the project, in addition to the Murovdag tunnel, four more tunnels with a total length of 2,636 meters are also being built. In these tunnels, the main construction works, including excavation, lining with concrete, and other technical operations, have mostly been completed.
Within the framework of the Toghanali–Kalbajar–Istisu highway project, 87 percent of the work has been completed.
This highway starts from the village of Toghanali in the Goygol district, passes through the liberated Kalbajar, and extends to the famous Istisu resort area. In addition to connecting the district center, the road will ensure convenient and safe transportation links to the region’s residential areas, and will contribute to the development of agriculture and tourism.
The implementation of such a strategically important project in such difficult geographical conditions once again proves that, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the rapid restoration of our liberated districts, including the creation of modern road and transport infrastructure in those regions, is at the center of attention of the Azerbaijani state.
On August 21, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva got acquainted with the work carried out on the Toghanali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway.
