A public hearing on another infrastructure project was held at the State Ecological Expertise Agency. The event, attended by the client, project implementers, environmentalists, representatives of NGOs and the media, as well as other stakeholders, focused on discussions of the environmental impact assessment of the Ahmadbeyli–Fuzuli–Shusha highway construction project.

The Chairman of the Board of the State Ecological Expertise Agency, Mirsalam Ganbarov, stated that when implementing any project, the use of natural resources must be carried out efficiently and accompanied by measures for their restoration, while special attention should be paid to environmental protection. He noted that the report to be presented on the ongoing works will include information on damage to green areas, construction camps established for road building, materials used there, removal and utilization of the fertile topsoil, and compensation for environmental damage.

Representing the client, Eyub Huseynov, project management engineer at the State Agency of Automobile Roads, emphasized that the construction of the 81.6 km-long Ahmadbeyli–Fuzuli–Shusha highway, which connects the districts of Fuzuli, Khojavend, Khojaly, and Shusha, is being carried out in full compliance with international highway standards. Of the nine viaducts planned under the project, construction works are currently ongoing on eight. During the construction of three of these viaducts, the method of horizontal sliding of formwork has been used for concreting for the first time in Azerbaijan. In addition, construction of the road interchange at the section where the Victory Road connects to the Ahmadbeyli–Fuzuli–Shusha highway is also progressing successfully.

Azad Majidov, Deputy Director of “Geoexpert Consulting” LLC, which prepared the environmental impact assessment document for the project, подчеркнул, что завершение строительства дороги планируется во второй половине 2024 года. “A large part of the project has already been implemented. The presence of mined areas created serious difficulties and slightly delayed the process. Considering traffic intensity, the 48 km section of the road up to the Tug roundabout will have six lanes, while the 33.7 km section leading to the city of Shusha will have four lanes. This road runs parallel to the Victory Road. The main purpose of constructing this road is that the sharp turns on the Victory Road are dangerous for large vehicles and heavy machinery. On the new road, these sensitive sections have been redesigned for safer passage. Eleven bridges have been built, nine of which have already been completed. In total, the road will include 35 crossings, also intended for animal use. Water drainage facilities have been installed as well. Moreover, the road will feature 9 viaducts, 7 tunnels, 203 circular and rectangular culverts, 35 crossings, 7 interchanges, and 2 toll stations,” he said.

It was also noted that during the construction of the Ahmadbeyli–Fuzuli–Shusha highway, the fertile topsoil affected by the project will be used efficiently for agriculture and restoration of greenery. The vegetation cover on the slopes of the road has been restored, which will help prevent soil erosion in the future.

At the public hearing, considering that the project is being implemented in the Karabakh region and its strategic importance, a general agreement was reached to conduct the expert review within a short period of time.