Since 2016, Uzbekistan has allocated 58 trillion UZS to road construction, leading to the development of 2,000 kilometers of new roads and the repair of 100,000 kilometers. The country has also purchased 1,700 units of specialized equipment, enhancing the capacity of road construction enterprises and introducing new types of asphalt and cement-concrete road surfaces. The new roads are expected to last 15–20 years, with their condition assessed using 42 different indicators.
Advanced equipment, acquired with grants from the World Bank, allows for the evaluation of the physical properties of road surfaces and the inspection of underground utilities without damaging the surface.
According to a UN analysis, improving the quality of roads in Uzbekistan could boost the country’s economy by at least 2%. Currently, six major projects are underway, in cooperation with international financial institutions, to reconstruct 729 kilometers of roads.
In the coming days, a 240-kilometer stretch of the Kungrad-Beyneu road is scheduled to be completed. Additional sections of the Gulistan-Andijan, Dushanbe-Termez, Bukhara-Turkmenbashi, and Urgench-Hazorasp roads will also undergo reconstruction.
Some 260 kilometers of roads in Uzbekistan’s regions have already been outsourced to private contractors. Through a project with the Asian Development Bank, an agreement has been reached to involve local contractors in the construction of 841 kilometers of roads for the first time.
Toll Roads in Focus
President Mirziyoyev has highlighted the need to accelerate toll road projects along the Tashkent-Samarkand and Tashkent-Andijan routes, especially in areas with high traffic volume. The legislation will also mandate the provision of alternative free roads for drivers who prefer not to use toll routes.
Construction of the Tashkent-Samarkand toll road is set to begin in 2024. A feasibility study for both the Tashkent-Samarkand and Tashkent-Andijan highways will be completed by the end of September, and a tender process will follow before the end of the year. The estimated cost of the Tashkent-Samarkand toll road is $2.2 billion.
The Tashkent-Andijan toll road, a 303-kilometer project supported by the World Bank, is currently in the planning stages. The project concept will be approved in October, with a tender scheduled for 2025 and an agreement expected in 2026. The preliminary cost is estimated at $4.28 billion.
In addition, a three-year program has been initiated to reconstruct 4,700 bridges in need of repair and 70 new service complexes will be built along approximately 4,000 kilometers of international highways.
