New Road to Iran from Armenia

Persian Journal, Iran
June 28 2005

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has approved project of
construction of a new road to Iran passing by Shikahogh forest
preserve, Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia Andranik
Manukyan told journalists today.

He says the length of the road will total 96 km. Which is by 7 km
longer, with the maximum height to be 2,160 meters as against 2,005
meters of the project via the reserve. However, comparing the new
project with the operative road to Iran, the minister pointed out
the preferential differences of the new one.

In particular, the slope of the new road will be an average of 5.8%
against 8% of the operative road with the maximum tilt being 8%
against present 14%. The smaller tilting will save $1.6 mln on fuel
and $70,000 on exploitation. The new road will have no serpentines
and its width will be 6.6 meters. Its maximum load will be 80 tons
against present 36 tons.

Manukyan says that the construction has already been started
and the second road connecting Iran and Armenia – Kapan-
Tsap-Shvanidzor-Shishkert-Meghri will be put into exploitation in
2006. The cost of the project is 9.3 bln AMD will not be changed
seriously.