S12 highway (Georgia)

The S12 route was divided over three routes within the Soviet road network classification introduced in the early 1980s. Between Samtredia and Sajavakho the road was part of the R-7 route which continued to Ozurgeti (Sajavakho - Ozurgeti is currently the Sh2). After Sajavakho the route of the current S12 continued as R-26 until Supsa, while the remaining 6 km to Grigoleti was numbered R-76. Prior to the 1980s the route was unnumbered as was the case with most Soviet roads.[2]

In 1996 the current Georgian classification system was adopted and the "roads of international importance" (S-)category was introduced. Initially the S12 was recorded as 56 kilometres (35 mi) "S12 Samtredia-Lanchkhuti-Ureki",[3] but in later years the west end of the road moved one kilometer to Grigoleti. The S12 improves long distance connectivity with Ajara and integrates the Guria region into the Georgian highway network.

The S12 route is under major redesign since 2014

After initial surveys and securing financial support since 2009,[4] the S12 is being upgraded to a motorway over its entire length with two lanes in each direction. The European Union supports the project with a European Investment Bank loan and a grant.[5]

The project is divided in four lots[6] and is part of the major East-West Highway project to create an international (east-west) transport corridor through Georgia, connecting Azerbaijan and Armenia with Turkey. The East-West Highway project also includes motorway upgrades of the S1 between Tbilisi and Samtredia, the S2 between Grigoleti and the Turkish border at Sarpi (part motorway, part single carriageway/super-two), the S4 between Rustavi and the Azerbaijani border (motorway), and the S7 to the Armenian border (motorway).

To bypass villages and towns, the S12 highway will be newly built and relocated up to a few km north. As result of this redesign the highway will be shortened to 51.5 kilometres (32.0 mi). The travel distance to Batumi will be further reduced with 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) by moving the junction with the S2 further south.

The first section of 18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi) (Lot 2) between Japana and Lanchkhuti has been delivered in summer 2020, of which 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) opened as motorway.[7] The remaining three lots have an unknown delay, with various degrees of progress. In December 2022 Lot4 opened adding another 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) motorway to Georgia's highway network.

S12 highway at Dafnari

A motorway section opened in 2020

The S12 highway begins as a two lane road in Samtredia at the junction with the S1 highway to Senaki and the Sh204 to Akhalsopeli. For one kilometer the S12 and the S1 to Tbilisi have an overlap until the junction with the S1 motorway. An overpass for the S1 is under construction. The S12 continues its way south next to the Batumi bound railway line and crosses the Rioni river. At Dapnari village the highway turns West, following the Rioni river at the foot of the hills. The road passes through various villages until through traffic gets transferred to the new motorway section at Japana. From here it is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) motorway until Lanchkhuti with a 110 km/h (68 mph) speed limit. At Lanchkhuti traffic exits the motorway and transfers through the village back to the old two lane road. If one is not in a hurry the road is a pleasant and easy drive. It navigates along the foot of the mountains to Grigoleti through green scenery alternated with villages. At Grigoleti the S12 route joins the S2 / E70 highway for Batumi to the south or Poti to the north.