Major road infrastructure upgrades announced in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has unveiled four additional road infrastructure projects aimed at improving the condition and traffic capacity of existing highways, as confirmed during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s briefing on May 13 regarding road management progress and future initiatives.

Currently, six large-scale projects supported by international financial institutions are underway to reconstruct 1,200 kilometers of roads. The four new projects will focus on:

• Reconstructing the A-380 highway, bypassing To‘rtko‘l and Beruniy cities in the Republic of Karakalpakstan;
• Fully repairing 516 kilometers of local roads in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm regions;
• Constructing cement-concrete roads between Termiz and Denov, as well as Syrdarya and Baxt.

These projects will be funded by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of maintaining road quality and ordered the development of infrastructure along highways to improve convenience for residents.

Additionally, officials acknowledged that the current "Law on Roads," introduced nearly 20 years ago, is outdated and does not reflect recent reforms or pressing issues.

In response, Uzbekistan is drafting a revised version of the law, incorporating key updates:

• A systematic approach to road planning, aligning development with population and economic growth;
• Public consultation and environmental considerations in road design;
• Strict requirements for pedestrian accessibility;
• Compensation mechanisms for restoring roads damaged by communication network construction;
• Regulations on toll roads and service facility placement;
• New policies to manage oversized and heavy vehicles.

Earlier, President Mirziyoyev hosted Alexander Dyukov, Chairman of Russia’s "Gazprom Neft," as part of the "Uzbekistan Oil and Gas" International Forum in Tashkent.