Georgia is nearing completion of a major arch bridge on the Kvesheti-Kobi highway, a strategic road connecting the country’s interior with the border area with Russia.

Construction teams are carrying out final work to join the arch of the 426-meter-long bridge, which stands 166 meters high, Sputnik Georgia reports.

The structure is considered the most technically challenging engineering project along the 23-kilometer highway section.

The wider project includes a main tunnel stretching nine kilometers, five bridges and four additional tunnels.

Traffic is scheduled to open in 2028. Once the project is completed, travel time between Kvесheti and Kobi is expected to fall to just 15 minutes.

The new road is also expected to improve winter transport safety by reducing the route’s exposure to avalanche risks, which can disrupt traffic in the mountainous region.