What has been announced about the new toll road?
Uzbekistan has officially begun construction of its first toll highway connecting Urgench and Khiva. The development was reported by O’zbekiston 24. The project marks a major infrastructure milestone for the Khorezm region.
According to Dilshod Niyazmetov, head of the regional Road Committee department, the highway is being built in line with international standards.
What are the technical specifications of the highway?
The four-lane asphalt road will stretch 35 km, slightly longer than the existing 34 km route. Its projected capacity exceeds 20,000 vehicles per day.
The pavement structure will be approximately 87 cm thick. The top two layers will use high-strength materials based on modified bitumen to ensure durability and long-term performance.
How will travel time change?
Gulom Zakhidov, Director of the state company Yo’l-Loyiha Byurosi, stated that the new highway will significantly reduce travel time. Currently, the journey takes up to one hour, while the new toll road will shorten it threefold — to just 17 minutes.
What infrastructure is included in the project?
The 35 km project is divided into five lots and includes large-scale construction works: 17 bridges, 8 overpasses, one tunnel, and five dedicated crossings.
Terminals and two service areas are planned at the beginning, middle, and end of the highway. Separate wildlife crossings will be built, along with overpasses where the road intersects with local settlement routes.
What technologies will be implemented?
Turkish engineer Bulent Bayir noted that traffic management will rely on digital systems powered by artificial intelligence. These systems will be capable of identifying different vehicle categories, including trucks, buses, minibuses, passenger cars, and others.
Due to the proximity of groundwater, collectors and modern drainage systems will also be integrated along the route.
What is the project’s cost and significance?
The total investment is estimated at $120 million. The new highway will directly connect Khiva to Urgench International Airport and eliminate major transportation inconveniences affecting tourism and local residents.
Earlier reports also mentioned speed limit reductions to 80 km/h on six sections of the Bektemir–Charvak highway.