ADB project: Bishkek – Kara-Balta Highway strengthens regional connectivity

Bishkek, Oct. 13, 2025. /Kabar/. Bishkek – Kara-Balta Highway is one of the largest and most strategically important transport projects in Kyrgyzstan, according to Nurmat Kalmurzaev, a road engineer at the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The project cost over $92 million, financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) combination of a $68.5 million loan and a $9.5 million grant.

The project began in 2017, but the main construction work did not begin until 2022. The new road is classified as Category 1B, has six lanes, and is designed to support loads of up to 11.5 tons. Since 85% of the highway passes through populated areas, significant challenges arose during the widening process. The process of relocating residents and buying out residential buildings is mandatory requirement of ADB’s policy, it turned out time-consuming and labor intensive, Kalmurzaev noted.

He added that underground utilities also presented additional challenges. The work was carried out in stages, with the road divided into two sections.

As part of the project, seven old pedestrian crossings were reconstructed and six new ones were built. After the road was commissioned, traffic flow nearly doubled. The construction work was carried out by China Railway company. The warranty period was initially one year, but was later extended to five years. However, this section of the Bishkek-Kara-Balta highway was not included in the extended warranty zones. The road was fully commissioned in 2024. The identified deficiencies are currently being addressed with government participation, Kalmurzaev added.