S3 highway (Georgia)

The route of the S3 follows the historic Georgian Military Road, which goes back many centuries. For a long time it was the only suitable way to pass the central section of the Caucasus Mountains, while the deep Darial Gorge at the Georgia–Russia border acted as a natural gate for anyone who wanted to pass the mountains, especially from the north. The route was also used by the Russian military to expand its control into Transcaucasia after the Kingdom of Georgia became a protectorate of the Russian Empire in 1783.

Since 1960, the current S3 was one of 37 listed routes in the Soviet Union, as main road 16 between Beslan and Yerevan via Tbilisi.{{cite web|url=http://lawru.info/dok/1960/12/22/n1192368.htm|title=Resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers of 12/22/1960 N 1303 "On approval of the List of highways of national importance"|publisher=USSR Law|language=Russian|date=1960-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404020652/http://lawru.info/dok/1960/12/22/n1192368.htm|accessdate=2021-09-02|archive-date=2019-04-04}} In the early 1980s, the Soviet road numbering system was overhauled and the Georgian Military Road became part of the A-301 between Tbilisi (Natakhtari junction with M-27, the current S1) and Beslan.{{cite web|url=http://pravo.levonevsky.org/baza/soviet/sssr3238.htm|title=Decision of the Council of Ministries of the USSR of 08.27.1982 N 800 on approval of the list of roads of the USSR of national significance|publisher=USSR Law|language=Russian|date=1982-08-27|accessdate=2021-09-02}} After Georgia regained independence in 1991, the A-301 designation was maintained until 1996 when the current route numbering system was adopted. In that year the "roads of international importance" (S-)category was introduced and the "S3 Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi (Georgia–Russia border)" replaced the A-301 designation.{{cite web|url=https://www.matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/1282992?publication=0|title=On Approval of Indicators and List for Determination of International, Domestic and Local Roads of Georgia (1996)|publisher=The Legislative Herald of Georgia|language=Georgian|date=1996-12-16|accessdate=2021-09-02}}

The S3 is the only direct road between centrally controlled Georgia and Russia, and is a crucial overland trunk route between Armenia and Russia as well. Between 2006 and 2010, the Larsi border crossing at the northern terminus of the S3 was closed by Russia in response to policies of the Saakashvili administration at the time, and no overland traffic between Georgia and Russia was possible at all, seriously affecting Armenia, which relies on trade with Russia. At the instigation of Armenia, the border crossing reopened in March 2010.{{cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/georgia/georgia-russia-border-crossing-point-reopen-march-1|title=Georgia-Russia Border Crossing Point to Reopen on March 1|publisher=Reliefweb|language=English|date=2010-02-27|accessdate=2021-09-02}}

The upper parts of the highway in the Caucasus Mountains are prone to landslides and heavy snow, which lead to frequent road closures and long (truck) queues. This has led to initiatives by Armenia and Russia to move Georgia to facilitate other available overland routes via its breakaways South Ossetia (Roki Tunnel) and Abkhazia to spread traffic and liability to delays.{{cite web|url=https://jam-news.net/georgia-and-russia-discuss-potential-transit-corridor-through-abkhazia-and-south-ossetia/|title=The fate of Georgian-Russian transit trade through Abkhazia and South Ossetia|publisher=JamNews|language=English|date=2018-05-21|accessdate=2021-09-02}}{{cite web|url=https://eurasianet.org/georgia-moves-closer-to-transit-deal-with-russia|title=Georgia moves closer to transit deal with Russia|publisher=Eurasianet|language=English|date=2019-01-23|accessdate=2021-09-02}} These initiatives have not brought any concrete progress. Instead, Georgia has begun to upgrade the most sensitive parts of the Georgian Military Road. Near the Russian border, a new {{convert|2|km|mi|adj=on}} tunnel has been built to address the impact of landslides.{{cite web|url=https://agenda.ge/en/news/2018/1883|title=2km tunnel opens in Darial gorge|publisher=Agenda.ge|language=English|date=2018-09-10|accessdate=2021-09-02}} This was spurred after two massive landslides in 2014 which killed 7 people, heavily damaged the Georgian border checkpoint, and blocked traffic for nearly two months in total.{{cite web|url=https://civil.ge/archives/123959|title=Dariali Landslide Cleanup Underway|publisher=Civil.ge|language=English|date=2014-08-22|accessdate=2021-09-02}}

File:Georgian S3 highway Kvesheti-Kobi.svg

In 2021, as part of the North-South Corridor project upgrading the Armenia–Russia route, the construction of a {{convert|23|km|mi|-long|adj=mid}} bypass of ski resort Gudauri was started, between Kvesheti and Kobi. The bypass intends to avoid not only the ski resort, but also the {{convert|2379|m|ft|-high|adj=mid}} Jvari Pass, which is prone to heavy snowfall and disruption for commercial cross-border traffic. It will be routed through the Khada Valley and will consist of a two-lane road plus a separate uphill lane for heavy traffic (2+1) and a {{convert|9.06|km|mi|adj=on}} tunnel through the Sadzele Mountain, the longest in the Caucasus region.

Kvesheti is at an altitude of {{convert|1380|m|ft}} while Kobi is at {{convert|1970|m|ft}}, which will then become the highest point on the road. The vertical difference of {{convert|600|m|ft}} will mainly be overcome at Kvesheti and in the Khada valley. The south portal of the tunnel will be at approximately {{convert|1800|m|ft}} above sea level, while the north portal at Kobi will be at approximately {{convert|1970|m|ft}}. The passage through the mountain reduces a major climb and descent of {{convert|400|m|ft}} from the route. Apart from the long tunnel, the bypass will feature four smaller tunnels and six bridges, including a {{convert|426|m|ft|adj=mid}} landmark arch bridge and a height of {{convert|176|m|ft}} spanning the Khada Valley and Khadistskali River.

The tunnel drilling started in 2021 and was done with a tunnel boring machine from China.{{cite web|url=http://www.georoad.ge/?lang=eng&act=news&func=menu&uid=1611037091&pid=1340628946|title=Kvesheti-Kobi road and 9 km long tunnel will ensure uninterrupted traffic at any time of the year|work=Roads Department Georgia|language=ka|date=2021-01-19|accessdate=2021-12-10}} The cost of the project is $558.6 million and is financed by the Asian Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with additional state budget funding from the Georgian government.{{cite web|url=https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/51257/51257-001-dpta-en.pdf|title=Georgia: North-South Corridor (Kvesheti-Kobi) Road Project FAQ|work=Asian Development Bank|language=en|date=2019-09-01|accessdate=2021-12-10}}

|-

|colspan=9 class="wikitable" style="align:center;text-align:center;background-color:#eaecf0"|1.000 km = 0.621 mi

{{flatlist|style=display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;margin-left:1.6em;font-size:90%;|1=

•       Under construction

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Financed by the Asian Development Bank, feasibility and design studies were finalized in 2020 for a realignment of {{convert|27|km|mi}} of the southern part of the S3 between Natakhtari and Zhinvali on the left bank of the Aragvi river as a two-by-two motorway (or dual carriageway).

File:Ananuri (S3 highway). A common road situation in Georgia.jpg Castle]]

File:Dariali Gorge at the Georgian border checkpoint (Verkhny Lars) to Russia.jpg]]

File:Georgian way -ს 3-.jpg]]

File:Georgian Military Road Krestovy pass IMG 8682 1920.jpg]]

The S3 highway branches off the S1 highway just north of Tbilisi and runs north through the rather flat Aragvi river valley; after a few kilometres, the road gets penned in by the mountains while the Aragvi valley continues on a slight incline until Zhinvali while passing through various villages with many local businesses. Zhinvali is a crosspoint for important state routes: the Sh26 to Shatili at the Russian border and the Sh27 to Tianeti. The latter branches off the Sh26 just outside of Zhinvali and offers a northern route to the Kakheti region. Both state routes have been rehabilitated in recent years{{When|date=February 2025}}. From Zhinvali, the S3 highway continues along the western arm of its namesake reservoir. From this point the Aragvi river valley turns into a gorge. After Kvesheti, the starting point of the Gudauri Bypass, the road begins its climb to the Jvari pass via the Gudauri ski resort. In just {{convert|25|km|mi}}, the road climbs more than {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on|comma=off}} in altitude to {{convert|2379|m|ft|abbr=on|comma=off}}.

The Jvari Pass is part of the north–south watershed of the Caucasus Mountains which separates the Aragvi and Terek river basins. On the north side of the pass, the Georgian Military Highway gradually descends to Kobi, where the new Gudauri Bypass will join the S3 at an altitude of {{convert|1970|m|ft|abbr=on|comma=off}}. At Kobi, the highway joins the Terek River, which runs through the Dariali Gorge to Russia. Via a few small villages, the highway reaches Stepantsminda, the administrative center of Kazbegi Municipality and the site of the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church, which looms over the Georgian Military Road from above. For many overland travelers, it is the first stop in Georgia when coming from Russia.

Between Kobi and Stepantsminda, the Terek river valley is relatively wide, but north of Stepantsminda, the mountains close in, culminating in the Dariali Gorge near the Georgian–Russian border. Here, a new {{Convert|2|km|4=-long|adj=mid}} tunnel was built in 2018 to protect the road against landslides and avalanches. On other spots, avalanche galleries have been constructed as well. The Georgian Kazbegi border checkpoint is located at an altitude of {{convert|1260|m|ft|abbr=on|comma=off}} above sea level near the actual border, while the Russian Verkhniy Lars checkpoint is {{convert|3|km|mi}} further downstream the Terek River due to the geography. The road continues as A161 to Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Russian federal republic North Ossetia–Alania.

{{GEOinttop|noregion=yes|exit|name|hatnote=The entire route is in Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and overlaps with E117 and AH81. The AH81 has its western terminus at the Georgian-Russian border}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|municipality=Mtskheta

|mspan=2

|km=0

|exit=File:Sinnbild Autobahnkreuz.svg

|name=Tbilisi / Tsiteli Khidi (Red Bridge)

|road=File:S1 Highway sign (green).svg  File:Tabliczka E60.svgFile:Tabliczka E117.svgFile:Tabliczka AH5.svgFile:Tabliczka AH81.svg

|notes= 

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=3

|exit=File:AB-EML.svg

|name=Dzalisi

|road=File:SH151-GE.svg

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|municipality=Dusheti

|mspan=8

|km=16

|exit=File:AB-EML.svg

|name=Sashaburo

|road=File:SH65-GE.svg

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=20

|exit=File:AB-EML.svg

|name=Dusheti

|road=File:SH65-GE.svg

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=25

|exit=File:AB-AZ.svg

|name=Bichnigauri

|road=

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=26

|exit=File:AB-EMR.svg

|name=Tianeti / Shatili

|road=File:SH26-GE.svg

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=37

|kmspan=2

|place=Crosses Arkala River (Ananuri Bridge 240 m)

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=none

|place=File:Finland road sign G28.svg Ananuri Castle on right side next to Ananuri Bridge and S3 highway

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=56

|place=Bibiliani Bridge 85 m

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=80

|place=Crosses (Mtiuleti) Aragvi River (155 m)

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|municipality=Kazbegi

|mspan=14

|km=98

|place=File:Finland road sign G28.svg Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=100

|place=Jvari Pass ({{convert|2379|m|ft|abbr=on|comma=off}})

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=107

|place=Crosses Baidara River

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=108

|place=Crosses Baidara River

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=109

|place=Crosses Narvani River

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=121

|exit=File:AB-EMR.svg

|name=Sno / Juta

|road=File:SH147-GE.svg

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=126

|place=Crosses Terek River

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=127

|exit=File:AB-EML.svg

|name=File:Finland road sign G28.svg Gergeti Trinity Church

|road=File:SH146-GE.svg

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=130

|place=Tunnel (750 m)

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=134

|place=Crosses Terek River (90 m)

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=135

|place=Tunnel (1700 m)

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=137

|place={{flagicon|GEO}} Kazbegi Georgian border checkpoint

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=138

|place=Georgia–Russia border

}}

{{GEOint|exit|name

|km=141

|place={{flagicon|RUS}} Verkhny Lars Russian border checkpoint. Road continues as File:A161-RUS.svgFile:Tabliczka E117.svg to Vladikavkaz

}}

{{Jctbtm|col=8}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Rosen |first=Roger |title=Georgia: A Sovereign Country of the Caucasus |publisher=Odyssey Publications |location=Hong Kong |year=1999 |isbn=962-217-748-4}}

{{refend}}

{{Georgian S-road network}}

Category:Roads in Georgia (country)