Traffic restrictions lifted on most roads in Georgia after heavy snowfall

Many roads have been closed until now due to heavy snowfall that began on January 6. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Traffic restrictions have been lifted on most road sections in Georgia after being closed due to heavy snowfall that began on January 6.

According to the most recent data from the road department, traffic is now moving freely through the Rikoti pass, which connects east and west Georgia. Also the road in Ninotsminda, which leads to the border with Armenia, has been opened as have all the roads in the regions Adjara and Guria.

But there are still restrictions in the mountainous northern part of Georgia. Trailers and buses are prohibited from driving the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi and Mleta-Gudauri road sections, where traffic was resumed on Sunday.

The road sections Gudauri-Kobi and Stepantsminda-Larsi in Dariali Valley, which connects Georgia with Russia, is closed to all kinds of vehicles. Cars are allowed to drive along the Mleta-Gudauri and Kobi-Stepantsminda road sections only of by using snow chains. According to the Infrastructure Ministry, the danger of avalanche in Kazbegi region is minimal.

Cars are not allowed to drive along the Kala-Ushguli road, which is also in the northern part of Georgia.

On Saturday, more than 500 tourists and locals were shuttled by helicopter from Georgia’s northern region Kazbegi to Ananuri, after being trapped there for several days due to the snow.

According to the Interior Ministry, rescue workers carried out more than ten flights to bring the tourists and locals out of the isolated area. Vazha Chokheli, administrative head of Dusheti municipality, told journalists that most of the people were staying in hotels, most were coming from Russia or going to Armenia.