Rikoti–Sairme Road Bypass Rehabilitation and Realignment
EBRD is considering financing the rehabilitation and partial realignment of a 28 km mountain road connecting the fictional towns of Sairme and Kveda Rikoti. The project would improve road safety and reduce travel time, but requires a new bypass section around three villages. This consultation invites residents, road users, and local businesses to comment on environmental and social impacts before financing decisions are finalized.
The proposed project involves rehabilitating an existing 28 km two-lane mountain road and constructing a 6 km bypass realignment to remove through-traffic from three village centers. Works include slope stabilization, new drainage, three small bridges, and noise barriers near residential clusters. The realignment requires acquisition of ~14 hectares of mixed agricultural and forest land, affecting ~40 households through partial land take. Category B under EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy, requiring disclosure of an ESIA, a Resettlement Action Plan, and a SEP with a 30-day public comment period.
Project Documents
Location
Sairme valley corridor, Imereti region (fictional)
GE
Map PlaceholderCommunity submissions (public)
The current road has many blind curves and every winter there are crashes. I strongly support this project. My only request is that the design includes proper guardrails and lighting on the steep section near the river, which the old road never had.
The new alignment passes much closer to our house than the current road. We support safer roads but worry about noise from trucks at night. The summary mentions noise barriers but does not say where they will go. Will houses like ours actually be covered, or only the cluster in the town center?
Our members run small guesthouses that depend on passing visitors. If the bypass removes traffic from the village center entirely, we lose our walk-in customers. We ask for clear signage directing tourists to the old route and village amenities, and consultation on the placement of the new junctions.
During the works, heavy trucks will pass our village school twice an hour. There is no footpath and children walk on the road edge. I am afraid an accident will happen before the new road is even finished. What protections will be in place during construction?
Community and road safety during construction is a priority. The contractor will be required to implement a Traffic Management Plan that includes reduced speed limits, flag-persons near the school, temporary footpaths, and restricted heavy-vehicle movements during school arrival and departure hours. These measures will be specified in the Environmental and Social Action Plan.