East Kazakhstan Region: Oskemen-Taldykorgan Highway Launched

The reconstruction of the road, better known to the people as the Almaty highway, took about eight years, Orda.kz reports, citing YK-news.kz.

The reasons for the long-term construction are related to the pandemic and lack of funds and materials. 

Traffic along the entire length of the road was officially launched on December 24.

Today, the route is a modern four-lane highway with lighting, markings, a two-level interchange, and a modular traffic police station.

Work on some sections began in 2017. Other sections were being designed at that time. We also delayed it because of COVID. There were work stoppages, and in the post-COVID period there was a slight increase in cost. In connection with this, the project was adjusted, said KazAvtoJol Chair, Darkhan Imanashev.

A Chinese bank financed the project, and a Kazakh-Turkish company was responsible for its implementation.

The reconstruction of the road cost approximately 300 billion tenges. Over eight years, the project's price increased by about 30 percent.

Despite the official launch, work is still ongoing on some sections of the route, with snow barriers and cattle fences being installed.

The Oskemen-Kalbatau-Taldykorgan highway connects three regions - Jetisu, Abay, and the East Kazakhstan region. The length of the road is 768 kilometers.

The highway is actively used for transit international transportation. From six to eight thousand cars pass along it per day.

Original Author: Raushan Korzhumbekova