Uzbekistan has begun construction of a new toll highway connecting Tashkent and Samarkand, valued at nearly $2.2 billion. According to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, once operational, the travel time between the two cities will be reduced from 5 hours to just 2.5 hours.
The head of state attended a groundbreaking ceremony on July 22 in the Urta-Chirchik district of the Tashkent region. The six-lane highway will stretch 282 kilometers and include 92 bridges, 28 overpasses, and 60 tunnel-type crossings.
The road will feature a monolithic concrete pavement designed for heavy and high-speed traffic. On flat sections, vehicles will be able to travel at speeds up to 150 km/h. Modern safety systems and digital solutions are expected to significantly reduce the number of road accidents.
Upon completion, the highway's capacity is projected at 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles per day. Freight transportation costs are expected to decrease by 20–24%. Mirziyoyev called the construction a “huge historical step” in developing Uzbekistan’s transport infrastructure and emphasized that a “literally new era” is beginning in the road sector.
The new route is expected to boost economic activity in the regions it passes through. Citing a World Bank analysis, the president noted that every dollar invested in such infrastructure projects can generate up to five dollars in economic returns. The highway is projected to increase the gross regional product of the Tashkent, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Samarkand regions by 3%.
In 13 districts with a combined population of over 2 million, thousands of new jobs and income sources are expected to emerge. Along the highway, plans include logistics centers, warehouses, industrial and agro-industrial enterprises, trade and service facilities, hotels, and tourist complexes. The use of local services and construction materials is expected to provide large orders for entrepreneurs and stimulate new production capacities.
Mirziyoyev also announced the start of construction on the Khiva-Urgench road, the nearing completion of an international tender for the Tashkent-Andijan highway, and the final stage of designing the Tashkent-Bostanlyk road. “Today, on the eve of the 35th anniversary of our homeland’s independence, we are laying another solid foundation for the future of our country, economic stability, and the well-being of our people,” the president said while launching the project.
The new Tashkent-Samarkand toll road will begin at the Tashkent ring road in Sergeli. The government is considering a phased opening, starting with the Tashkent-Syrdarya section. Earlier, Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov stated that construction of the toll highway was planned to begin in July 2026.
The project is valued at $2.185 billion and was planned to be implemented in four stages: 85% of the cost ($1.857 billion) to be financed by Chinese banks, and the remaining 15% ($328 million) from Uzbekistan’s state budget. A $200 million bridge loan with a one-year term was also considered to kickstart the work.
The new six-lane highway, 282 km long, will connect the Tashkent, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Samarkand regions and is designed for speeds up to 150 km/h. The government had previously considered a phased launch starting with the Tashkent-Syrdarya section. The transport minister noted that the existing road is already handling more traffic than its design capacity. The new highway is expected to cut travel time by 2 to 2.5 times.
Toll rates will be set after negotiations with investors, taking into account the financial capabilities of the population. The route will include interchanges, bridges, overpasses, tunnel crossings, terminals, roadside infrastructure, an intelligent transport system, and weight control.
Source: www.gazeta.uz