Ilham Aliyev visits construction site of the 4th tunnel and a 15.2-kilometer section of the Toghanaly-Kalbajar-Istisu highway

On September 2, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva inspected the construction progress of the 4th tunnel and a 15.2-kilometer section of the Toghanaly-Kalbajar-Istisu highway project in the Kalbajar district.

Saleh Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads, briefed the President and First Lady on the ongoing work.

The construction of the Toghanaly-Kalbajar-Istisu highway is part of the broader reconstruction and restoration projects in the liberated territories. The existing road spans 100 kilometers, while the new road is planned to be 82 kilometers long. Significant progress has already been made.

The 500-meter tunnel, located between the 34.9 and 35.4-kilometer marks, has a lane width of 8 meters. Additionally, six intersections totalling 2,968 meters have been reconstructed, and 36 connecting roads, covering 5,600 meters, are under construction.

The President and First Lady were also briefed on the completed work along the 15.2-kilometer section of the highway. The road, which connects the Goygol and Kalbajar districts, stretches 56 kilometers from Toghanaly to Kalbajar and 26 kilometers from Kalbajar to Istisu.

Starting at the 13th kilometer of the Toghanaly-Kalbajar road, the Murovdag mountain range begins, with elevations rising from 1,700 to 3,260 meters. The construction of the Murovdag tunnel, set to be one of the world’s longest road tunnels, is underway. The tunnel will have two lanes in one direction and a width of 10 meters. Additionally, four other tunnels, measuring 561.2 meters, 626.9 meters, 500 meters, and 947.9 meters in length, are also being constructed. The 23.4-kilometer Murovdag tunnel will feature connecting roads linking the right and left sections.

Overall, the Toghanaly-Kalbajar-Istisu highway is 67.5% complete.

This highway begins in Toghanaly village in Goygol district and passes through the liberated Kalbajar district. It will facilitate convenient access to numerous residential areas, the district center, and the renowned Istisu region.

Later, a project for the construction of internal roads in the city of Kalbajar was also presented to the head of state and his spouse.