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WESTERN EUROPE – WESTERN CHINA
INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT CORRIDOR ROAD
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROAD SECTION IN KAZAKHSTAN

The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan through the Ministry of Investment and Development is implementing the ambitious programme of Rehabilitation and Up-gradation of road corridor from China to Russia through Almaty, Shymkent, Kyzylorda and Aktobe in the name of Western Europe-Western China International Transit Corridor, about 2787 km long as shown in the attached Map. The project is being implemented by Government along with International Financial Institution (the IFI’s).

The project is being financed by Five International Financial Institutions ADB, IDB, EBRD, JBIC and the World Bank (IBRD). In particular World Bank and Govt. of Republic of Kazakhstan is financing two components of the project:

Component 1: Upgrade and reconstruction of road sections within Kzylorda oblast (excluding the bypass to Kzylorda) and Aktobe oblast has been completed in 2013.

The length of this section of road is about 788.50 km of road in Kyzylorda Oblast with a modern structural design, including road safety to lower the life cycle cost of the asset.

Component 2- Upgrade and Reconstruction of road sections within South Kazakhstan Oblast including the Kyzylorda bypass has been completed in 2014.

The length of this component under the first phase for up gradation and reconstruction is about 301 km of road section starting from the Border of Kyzylorda/SKO, all of which are dual carriageway with 4 lanes with enhanced safety.

The length of this component under the 2^nd phase for upgradation and reconstruction is about 80 km of road section starting from the Border of Shymkent to Border of Zhambyl Oblast Road Section, all of which are dual carriageway with 4 lanes with enhanced safety. This section consists of road and approximately one Km section Tunnel, road section has been completed and the tunnel is now under construction.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Govt. of Republic of Kazakhstan has financed for Up-gradation and Reconstruction of Russian Federation Border – Martuk- Aktobe section of length 102 km.

The Tashkent – Shymkent - Zhambyl region border section of length 203 km has been financed by IBRD (64 km) and ADB (139 km). ADB financed section has been completed in 2016 and the IBRD financed section will be completed in September 2017.

The completed section (2013) from South Kazakhstan region border to Taraz of length 114 km has been financed by Asian Development Bank Govt. of Republic of Kazakhstan.

Taraz-korday-Almaty section of length 365.70 km has been financed by Asian Development Bank, JBIC and Govt. of Republic of Kazakhstan

Almaty – Khorgos Section of length 301 km has been completed in 2016 financed by IBRD and planned for Tolling System with support from IBRD in 2018. Accordingly, invitation for International Bidding for the “Supply of Equipment and Installation of the Toll Collection System” was invited in March 2017. Now, it is in the process of awarding the Contract with the duration of 12 months for the completion.

The Aktobe – Karabutak – Irgis section of length 273 km, Karabutak – border of Kyzylorda region section of length 215 km and Almaty – Bishek Section of length 205 km have already been constructed which are part of Western Europe – Western China International Transit Corridor.

The whole Corridor stretches 8,445 km where 2,233 km belong to the Russian Federation and 3,425 km to People’s Republic of China.

The Russian part of the route starts from Saint Petersburg and runs through Moscow – Nizhniy Novgorod – Kazan – Orenburg – Martuk border point in Kazakhstan. According to information, some sections of the road have already been constructed. Other parts are being implemented with anticipated commissioning in 2018. Completion of the whole Russian section of the WE-WC Corridor from Saint Petersburg to the border with Kazakhstan is expected in 2023. Among them, certain parts of the new road will be toll roads.

Chinese part of the Corridor runs through Khorgos – Urumqi – Lanzhou – Zhengzhou – Lianyungang port on the East Coast of PRC and has already been completed.

THE OBJECTIVE OF
THE WESTERN EUROPE – WESTERN CHINA
CORRIDOR PROJECT

The objective and aim of the project is to increase transport efficiency and improve traffic safety along the South – West Corridor, the benefits, common for three countries, associated with the project are as below:

• Faster local and Regional Socio – Economic Development
• Increased Road Safety, reduction in road accidents
• Reduction in travel time and Cost,
• Increase in foreign exchange as the route will be used as international transit route
• Development and Integration of most backward areas of the country
• Increase in the trade as the locally produced goods in the region can be transported to Western Europe, Western China etc.