SECOND IRAN-ARMENIA HIGHWAY OPENED IN MEGHRI WITH PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
arminfo
2007-10-26 13:45:00
ArmInfo. The Armenian section of Iran-Armenia interstate highway
worth $45 million was officially opened in Meghri with participation
of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Friday.
In his speech, President Kocharyan said that highway is of great
strategic importance for Armenia and will boost the commodity
turnover with Iran. It may become a transit highway as well. The
president thanked the builders for high quality work and stressed
that the highway meets international standards unlike the old one
(Kapan-Kajaran-Meghri). The president said the construction of the
new Karan-Tsav-Meghri section of the highway will also boost the trade
with Syunik hereby raising the living standards in the region. Robert
Kocharyan stressed the necessity of continuing the construction
of Kapan-Sisian section. He also added that Armenia is seriously
discussing the project of railway construction with Iran at present.
The data of the Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communication say
that the construction of the 90km Karan-Tsav-Meghri section started in
2005. The 40 km section Verishen-Tsav was fundamentally reconstructed
and the remaining 50 km were repaired. The state budget approved
15.2 billion drams ($45 million on current exchange rate) for this
purpose. The average lorry speed on the new highway is 55-60 km/h
as against 35-75 km/h on the old road. Although the new highway is
longer, its travel time is 1 hour and 45 minutes as against 2 hours
and 10 minutes of the old one. The road capacity of the highway is
about 80 tons as against 35 tons of the old way. The highest datum is
2.215m as against 2.535 of the old way. The camber angle was reduced
by 10-14% to 8-9%.