The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $198m to help upgrade and widen 77km of the existing Karshi-Shakhrisabz-Kitab highway in Uzbekistan.

The loan will help in improving domestic and international trade, tourism, and mobility in Kashkadarya province, of south-east Uzbekistan.

Good transport connectivity is a major growth driver in a landlocked country like Uzbekistan, a member of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC).

ADB Central and West Asia Department Principal Transport Specialist Jiangbo Ning said: “The road upgrade will solidify Uzbekistan’s position as a key transit country for trade in Central Asia and the rest of Europe and Asia.

“The project will also improve road facilities and management through road safety measures, and capacity development for relevant authorities and stakeholders.”

The loan will be used towards the upgrade two road sections between the cities of Karshi, Shakhrisabz, and Kitab into a 4-lane concrete pavement incorporating road safety and climate change adaptation features.

Upon completion of the upgrade, an increase is expected in the annual average daily traffic on the Karshi-Kitab road to 14,000 vehicles by 2022 from 9,408 vehicles last year.

"The project will also improve road facilities and management through road safety measures, and capacity development for relevant authorities and stakeholders."

The project is also expected to increase international trade and tourism along the CAREC corridors, and make the roads much safer.

It will also improve management and skills of the Republican Road Fund, as project’s executing agency, and certain road design institutes in the country to elevate road design and construction standards.

The total cost of the project is $266.2m, with the Government of Uzbekistan contributing $68.2m. The expected project completion date is by the end of 2021.

Image: The Karshi-Shakhrisabz-Kitab highway. Photo: courtesy of Asian Development Bank.