Over 500 Trucks Await to Cross the Border at Upper Lars, Customs Attaché

More than 500 trucks have crossed the Upper Lars checkpoint from both the Georgian and Russian sides, and an equal number are waiting to cross the border. This was reported to Sputnik Armenia by Vahan Hakobyan, the customs attaché of the Armenian Embassy in Russia.

It was previously announced that the "Upper Lars" road has been opened for heavy trucks from Georgia to Russia following the cleaning operations on the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Lars highway, particularly the Gudauri-Kobi section.

"As of February 4 at 10:00 a.m., 242 trucks have departed from Georgia to Russia, while another 210 are waiting at the customs checkpoint. In the opposite direction towards Georgia, 322 trucks have crossed the border, with another 300 in line," the attaché stated.

According to him, among these vehicles are also those travelling from Armenia to Russia and vice versa. Currently, the road is open.

It is worth noting that the military road is now the only land route connecting Armenia with Russia. It is periodically closed due to bad weather.

Georgia is constructing a bypass road around the landslide-prone section of the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Lars highway (Gudauri-Kobi). The project involves a 9-kilometer tunnel passing under the Khach Mountain Pass. The plan includes constructing a 22.7 km long road, as well as 6 bridges and 5 tunnels. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.