On Dec. 21 RA Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen Sargsyan held a year closing press conference and reported that 418km of highway was reconstructed in 2009 totaling 39.8bn AMD.

According to him, the reconstruction works were carried out in three stages: national importance highway reconstruction, “Rural roads” program, financed by Asian Development Bank and World Bank and of “Renovation of essential roads” program.

The Minister noted that the global financial crisis affected the area, yet the majority of the programs is or will be completed by the end of the year. “In general, 158km of highways is reconvated this year due to WB financing, and 100km is due next year,” Sargsyan noted, adding that a new Sevan lengthwise road construction caused by the lake level raise, will carry on in 2010. “The road in Lchashen region was already flooded. Corresponding measures were imminently undertaken and the new road was laid. The reconstruction works are not completed, yet the traffic is already launched”, Sargsyan assured.

G.G.