President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has opened transport communication between Turkey and the South Caucasus through Georgian territory, emphasizing that this automobile tunnel will link the countries and their economies in the region, Hurriyet reports.

“This automobile tunnel will contribute to the development of Erzurum and Ardvin as two major tourist destinations. This will also ease transit traffic to the Caucasus through these two cities,” Erdogan said in a video message on the occasion of the opening of the automobile tunnel.

The 2,246 km-long tunnel stretches from Uzundere province of Erzurum to Georgia through the bordering Ardvin city. It is expected that the investment will increase trade-economic activity between the countries of the region and will engage tourists.

According to Erdogan, the automobile tunnel will replace the old and very hazardous mountain pass, adding that the government will save nearly 18,000,000 Turkish liras thanks to the road tunnel.