On 13 December RA Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan paid a visit to the Stepantsminda-Lars Highway to review the situation.
As the Press Service of the ministry reports for already two weeks the highway has been open only for passenger vehicles up to 30 seats due to heavy snowfall and blizzards. Truck drivers have been waiting for improvement in weather conditions for more than ten days. The minister has talked to the drivers to find out what assistance can be provided to them.
Meeting with V. Martirosyan on the Georgian side of the border checkpoint Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Davitd Khutsishvili presented him the situation noting that the competent Georgian authorities are working under the extraordinary regime and are conducting clearing operations of the roads, however the weather conditions make safe drive of the traffic vehicles impossible.
The Georgia Customs DepartmentChief has also informed the Armenian minister on the situation in the Georgian side of the border checkpoint underscoring that in case of weather improvements a large number of trucks can cross the border.
“Both the Russian and the Georgian customs chiefs assured that even in case the weather conditions improve for a short period it will be possible to quickly carry out the customs clearance for the freight vehicles to enable the maximum number of vehicles cross the border,” Minister Vahan Martirosyan noted.
The source notes the snowfall ceased for a short period two days ago, the Lars Highway opened enabling 50 truck to cross the border. However the precipitations and the snowstorm restarted making the rest of the highway impassable and the vehicles were stuck in the midway.
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During the same day RA Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan held meetings in Tbilisi with Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Gakharia and Minister of Infrastructures and Territorial Development Zurab Alavidze. And on 14 December Minister Vahan Martirosyan met with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
The possible solutions to the issue were discussed during the meetings. The Georgian officials have assured Vahan Martirosyan that the drivers will be provided with all the necessary assistance and save drive for vehicles will be carried out as soon as possible.
Currently due to the sever snowstorm and heavy precipitations Stepantsminda-Lars Highway is shut down for all types of vehicles.
