Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Hajigabul-Sabirabad section of the Hajigabul-Bahramtapa highway being reconstructed

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the Hajigabul-Sabirabad section of the Hajigabul-Bahramtapa highway being reconstructed.

The head of state reviewed the stands reflecting the plan of the Hajigabul-Bahramtapa highway, including the Hajigabul-Sabirabad section of the road, its previous and current condition and the progress of construction work.

Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov informed the President of Azerbaijan about the project on the reconstruction of the Hajigabul-Bahramtapa highway. It was noted that the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the World Bank signed a loan agreement on the project on 28 July 2009, which was subsequently approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 6 October 2009. The loan agreement provides for the reconstruction of the 112.5-km Hajigabul-Bahramtapa highway and the construction of a new bridge at the crossing with the River Kura. The Open Joint Stock Company "AzerYolServis" under the Ministry of Transport held an international competitive tender on this project and on 17 May 2011 signed a contract agreement worth 196.96 million manats with Turkish company “Kolin”. Technical supervision of the construction is carried out by Italian company “Engineering”.

It was noted that the construction of a 50-km Hajigabul-Sabirabad section of the road has been completed. The two-lane road is 15 meters wide. The width of both lanes and shoulders of the road is 3.75 meters.

It was indicated that the contract also provides for the construction of four bridges, five pedestrian crossings, 68 drainage pipes and 26 bus stops along the road.

The President was also informed in detail about the Sabirabad-Bahramtapa section of the road.

It was noted that the reconstruction of three out of seven bridges had been completed, 60 per cent of the work completed on another three bridges and construction commenced on the last bridge along this 62.5-km stretch of the road. The cost of construction work on this section is 110.06 million manats. In general, 60 per cent of the work on this section of the road has been completed. The construction and assembly work is scheduled for completion in May 2014. According to the project, the total width of this section of the road is also 15 meters. The contract envisages the construction of seven bridges, one pedestrian crossing, 112 drainage pipes and 28 bus stops.

President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road.