Georgia's trunk highways form a network of internationally oriented roads that connects the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, home to roughly a third of the national population, with neighboring countries. This is the backbone for a network of domestic trunk roads connecting vital regions with each other and the capital. The total length of the road network in Georgia is 21,100 kilometres (13,100 mi) in 2021.[1] The roads of "international importance" and "national importance" are managed by the Roads Department (Georoad) of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.
Roads of international importance
The "roads of international importance" are the highest category of roads in Georgia. They are denoted by the prefix ს (Georgian for S), which stands for "საერთაშორისო მნიშვნელობის გზა" (Saertashoriso mnishvnelobis gza, road of international importance). Direction and destination signs in Georgia are in both Georgian and Latin scripts, but the prefix is only displayed in Georgian. Article 3.3 of the law on motor roads[2] defines that:
roads of international importance include roads connecting the administrative, important industrial and cultural centers of Georgia and other countries.
The network of S trunk roads has a total length of approximately 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) which is mostly built as two-lane highway. About 200 kilometres (120 mi) kilometers of the central east-west S1 and a limited section of the S12 has been upgraded to expressway or motorway with two lanes in each direction. The S4 and S5 trunk routes also have multiple lanes over a limited length.
The S1 and S10 are partially located in South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, over which the Georgian government exercises no authority. At the de facto boundary lines the roads are closed in both directions.
Roads of "international importance" in GeorgiaEuropean and Asian highways through Georgia
Tbilisi - Surami and Argveta - Samtredia have been (re)built as motorway (170 km). Surami - Argveta via Rikoti Pass is under construction as motorway (58 km).[3][4]
S2 upgrade is ongoing: the 32 km Kobuleti Bypass has been rebuilt as super-two with 90 km/h speed limit, as will be the 14 km Batumi Bypass. Kobuleti to Grigoleti (S12) is under construction as motorway (14 km).[5][6]
Rustavi - Red Bridge will be rerouted as 32 km motorway, including a new motorway section linking the S4 with the S7 to Armenia. The EU will provide financial support.[11]
The entire S12 is under construction as new motorway. In July 2020 Japana-Lanchkhuti (14 km) opened.[13] Three other sections experience delays (see S12 page).
The "roads of domestic importance" are the second category of main roads in Georgia with a total length of 5,460 km (3,390 mi) and connect vital economic, administrative and cultural centers. They are denoted by the prefix შ (Georgian for Sh), which stands for "შიდასახელმწიფოებრივი მნიშვნელობის გზა" (Shidasakhelmts’ipoebrivi mnishvnelobis gza, "road of domestic importance"). The use of the road numbers on direction signs is inconsistent and varies widely, including on trunk Sh roads. The vast majority of routes is relatively short, but some are up to nearly 200 km (120 mi) long with an interregional function.
Article 3.4 of the law on motor roads[2] defines roads of domestic importance as:
roads connecting with important industrial and cultural centers of the capital of Georgia, administrative centers of the Autonomous Republics and administrative centers of the municipality, as well as their bypasses and access to them from highways of international and domestic importance;
roads connecting the administrative centers of the Autonomous Republics, the administrative centers of the municipalities, the important industrial and cultural centers of Georgia;
roads connecting airports and ports with the capital of Georgia, administrative centers of autonomous republics and municipalities.
The quality of Sh-roads varies from excellent to very poor. Since 2006 however, priority has been given to improve regional connections, which has accelerated from 2014 onwards. The quality of the regional road network improves over the years, but large parts remain in mediocre, poor and/or unpaved condition and suffer from harsh climatic conditions, especially in the mountainous areas. The infamous "road to Omalo" (Sh44) to Tusheti National Park is the most extreme example of that.
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