North-South Highway to Open Year-Round from 2029: Avalanche-Prone Sections to Be Covered by Galleries

The alternative North-South road will begin operating year-round no earlier than 2029 — until then, passage is open only during the summer period. This was reported by Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Transport and Communications Talantbek Soltobaev in response to a question about the reasons for the delay in the opening and the final cost of the project.

According to Soltobaev, "the alternative road consists of several sections: the first, second and third phases." The minister specified that a total of about $900 million had been raised for the project. He added that construction of the last tunnel was completed at the end of 2024. In 2025 the road was not in operation, but in 2026 it was opened for traffic during the summer period. The reason for the delay in the year-round opening, he said, is that "in winter there are dangerous avalanche-prone sections there."

He specified that the stretches between Aral and Kazarman, as well as between Kazarman and Jalal-Abad, pose a particular danger, where rockfalls and snow avalanches are possible.

Using funds from the republican budget, construction is now under way on retaining walls, avalanche galleries and snow-protection structures. The minister reported that the development of a feasibility study has already been completed, and the president has set the task of completing the protective structures on schedule.

Construction of the highway officially began in April 2014; the authorities at the time expected to complete it by 2018. The initial cost estimate for the entire highway was $800 million.