Kyrgyzstan has opened traffic on a major new highway connecting the country’s northern and southern regions, featuring the longest road tunnel ever built in the country.

The alternative route became operational on June 1 and will remain open through November, helping ease congestion during the busy summer tourism season, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The 433-kilometer highway significantly improves connectivity between key regions of the country. Nearly 200 kilometers of the route pass through previously undeveloped mountainous terrain.

At the heart of the project is the Kok-Art Tunnel, the longest tunnel in Kyrgyzstan. Stretching more than 3.8 kilometers, the tunnel is 10 to 14 meters wide and 8.6 meters high, with a two-lane roadway and pedestrian walkways on both sides.

Construction is continuing on several key infrastructure components, including three viaduct bridges and two avalanche-protection galleries near the tunnel’s northern and southern approaches.

The route is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (GMT+6), with vehicle axle loads limited to 11.5 tons. Toll fees for using the tunnel range from 100 to 5,000 soms, depending on the type of vehicle.

Transport control checkpoints and mobile inspection teams have been also established to monitor compliance with weight and size regulations for freight transport.

The new highway is expected to transform travel across the country. The journey between Jalal-Abad and Balykchy, which previously took around 13 hours, can now be completed in just six hours.

Due to the risk of avalanches and rockfalls, the road will be closed during winter and spring months. Full completion and commissioning of the highway project is scheduled for 2028.