Standing on a quiet ridge above the Khevi Valley, watching the first machines rumble in. What broke the silence was not only noise, but something more grand than architecture – something more enduring than concrete.

Georgia is changing. This road – the Khevi-Kobi Road – is both a symbol and a trigger point.

Theoretically, it's a 23-kilometer modern highway that cuts through steep mountains, designed to replace seasonal roads frequently blocked by snow and landslides. But this project is more than infrastructure. It is a fault line – a road that cuts through the heart of a nation, touching sovereignty, security, culture, identity, and foreign influence.

Engineering Beyond Limits: What Is the Road Like?

The terrain here is extremely rugged. Cliffs, narrow gorges, steep slopes. The old road between Khevi and Kobi is not only outdated but also dangerous. Snowfall causes road closures for months, and falling rocks are deadly. Traveling has become dangerous. Every winter, life comes to a standstill.

This new road aims to solve this problem. The $558 million project includes:

  • A 23-kilometer modern highway
  • Six bridges
  • Five tunnels, including a 9-kilometer tunnel, Georgia's longest tunnel

This is not just ground engineering; it's a reimagining of transportation. Workers have directly drilled through the mountains, excavating tunnels beneath soil untouched for thousands of years. This will reduce travel time from over an hour to just 15 minutes – a major transformation for traffic, trade, and daily life.

The engineering challenges are immense. Avalanche risks, extreme cold, fragile ecosystems. Construction workers use large drills, explosives, and support structures to stabilize the rock walls. Monitoring systems track environmental changes in real-time. But moving forward in such terrain requires sacrifices. And some of these sacrifices are becoming increasingly difficult to justify.

Who Paid, Who Built, Who Benefited?

The funding sources of the project are as follows:

  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  • Government of Georgia

On the surface, it seems like a joint effort aimed at enhancing connectivity, improving regional transport, and supporting economic growth. But the main players in construction tell a different story.

One of the main contractors, China Railway Tunnel Group, led the majority of heavy engineering work. Other Chinese infrastructure companies were also involved. Their experience is unquestionable, as is their global influence.

This project is not just a contract; it is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is an ambitious global strategy aiming to create trade corridors across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Georgia, as a bridge between East and West, is at the core of this strategy.

From a geopolitical perspective, this changes everything.

Building this road is not only for Georgia's benefit, but also serves the long-term vision of connecting Eurasia.

The Sacred Khevi Valley

The Khevi Valley is more than a corridor; for many Georgians, it is a sacred place. Here, ancient towers rise along the ridges. Ancient churches, built without cement or modern tools, still silently pray. These landmarks form part of Georgia's oldest stories.

What Will This Road Actually Achieve?

If you look at the results, it's easy to list the positive aspects:

  • Travel time reduced from 60 minutes to 15 minutes
  • Year-round accessibility
  • Better emergency response in winter
  • Improved connection with Tbilisi and other economic centers
  • New visitor centers and infrastructure promoting tourism development
  • More predictable freight transport between Russia, Armenia, and Georgia

Residents in remote areas will no longer face months of isolation. Freight trucks will no longer need to take dangerous, time-consuming, and costly detours. Tourists can finally reach the snowy valleys and green hills safely and comfortably.

Hospitals will be closer, markets will be more accessible. The promise is clear: this road will improve the lives of thousands of people.

But the question remains who will gain the most from it.

Shadow of Russia on the Asphalt

This road connects not only villages, but also opens a direct route to Russia and Armenia, bypassing existing dangerous or unreliable routes. On the map, this seems like a victory. But in Georgia, the discussion has changed.

Russia and Georgia once had a war. Russia occupied parts of Georgia. The 2008 conflict is still fresh in memory. Now, with the Ukraine-Russia conflict, many Georgians no longer see this new road as a bridge, but rather as a back door.

Critics believe this road could become a tool for Russia to increase its influence. It simplifies trade, but may also simplify passage politically, economically, and even militarily.

These fears are not based on fantasy, but on real concerns shaped by history.

Tourism or Tension? The Future Remains Uncertain

Georgia has long relied on its natural beauty to attract tourists. The Khevi-Kobi area offers mountain gorges, medieval architecture, and pristine wilderness. With the opening of the new road, officials hope to attract more tourists, build new eco-hotels, and stimulate the rural economy.

There is real opportunity here. But development is a double-edged sword. The valley's raw beauty attracts tourists – its seclusion, its tranquility. Will sidewalks, tunnels, and bridges rob them of the very charm they want to showcase?

Villagers have already started expressing concerns about rising costs, pollution, and displacement due to commercial development. Some worry their homes might be taken over by new businesses. Others fear their cultural heritage might be sold as attractions.

The Decision That Won't Disappear

The Khevi-Kobi Road is about to be completed. The machinery has finished its work, and the tunnels are almost complete. But the real results are just beginning to show.

The road is about to be completed, but Georgia's journey has just begun.

Source: Incredible Construction

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7539400149160804914/

Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author and welcomes your opinion by clicking the [Up/Down] buttons below.