By lyndamyer
As one of five on the new 23km-long road between Kvsheti and Kobi, also known as the North-South Corridor KK Highway, the TBM has broken through Gudauri Tunnel with 9km length that is Georgia’s longest road tunnel.
Including the Gudauri Tunnel, the 10km Lot 1 section of the dual carriageway’s construction is up to China Railway Tunnel Group. In addition to linking mountain villages in the Greater Caucasus range that often have no road access during the winter, this new highway is due to decrease the distance between the two centers by 11km.
Due to the mountain range it bored through, the 15.09m diameter TBM was named Caucasus, while it is 182m long, weighs 3,900 tons and has a maximum thrust of 22,600 tons and a total power of 9,900kW, with maximum advance of 426m per month.
The breakthrough ceremony was attended by Georgia’s prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
