Armenia’s North-South Road Corridor Investment Program (Program 4) took a significant step forward on December 27th with the government’s declaration of public eminent domain for specific areas in Syunik Province. This decision clears the path for the construction of a crucial 60-kilometer road segment connecting Sisian and Kajaran, poised to dramatically improve the nation’s transportation network.
This ambitious project entails the construction of a 60-kilometer, second-category asphalt concrete road, 11.1 meters wide, featuring three 3.30-meter traffic lanes. The infrastructure development also includes the construction of 27 bridges totaling 4.7 kilometers, nine tunnels spanning 12.5 kilometers – notably including the 8.65-kilometer Bargushat Tunnel – and various safety enhancements. This comprehensive upgrade will significantly reduce travel distance and time between Sisian and Kajaran. Projected average vehicle speeds are expected to double from 50 km/h to 100 km/h, resulting in increased travel comfort and safety for commuters and freight transport.
To facilitate construction, the project necessitates the acquisition of privately owned land within the designated expropriation zone. Approximately 570 land plots in the Sisian and Kajaran communities, encompassing villages such as Aghitu, Darbas, Ishkhanasar, Noravan, Lernadzor, and Nor Astghaberd, will be affected. These properties will be acquired by the Armenian government, represented by the Road Department Foundation, with the expropriation process targeted for initiation by December 1, 2025. This acquisition is a direct consequence of the project’s scale and its importance to national infrastructure development.
Further bolstering the project’s financial foundation, the government also approved a loan agreement with the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). This agreement secures a $200 million investment loan from the Eurasian Stabilization and Development Fund to finance the construction of the 7-kilometer Kajaran Tunnel and 4 kilometers of connecting roads. This substantial investment is aimed at enhancing transit potential along the North-South Corridor and reducing accident rates, further demonstrating the government’s commitment to improving transportation safety and efficiency.
An amendment to the agreement now allows for the direct procurement of advisory services from the original project designer. This measure ensures effective oversight during the construction phase, capitalizing on the designer’s in-depth knowledge of the project. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure considers this supplementary agreement crucial for the successful and efficient implementation of the Kajaran Tunnel and its connecting roads, recognizing their strategic importance within the larger North-South Corridor project. This direct engagement with the original designers mitigates potential risks associated with misinterpretations of the design plans and ensures continuity of expertise.
