Uzbekistan opens first toll road linking Urgench and Khiva

Uzbekistan has inaugurated its first-ever toll road, a significant infrastructure project connecting the Urgench airport to the historic city of Khiva. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev traveled the new four-lane, 35-kilometer highway on Tuesday.

The road, constructed alongside a new railway line, is designed to drastically cut travel time. Previously, the journey between Urgench and Khiva took approximately 45 to 50 minutes. The new toll road is expected to reduce this to just 15 to 17 minutes.

Drivers will experience a modern payment system, with electronic toll collection managed by digital systems. Payments can be made without stopping, using a bank card or a QR code. The road also features special lanes to ensure unobstructed passage for emergency and special-purpose vehicles.

Construction on the project began in February and was estimated to cost $120 million. The road's design includes a 1-kilometer tunnel, eight overpasses, 15 bridges, and 106 culverts. Service and roadside facilities are also planned along the route. The pavement structure is 87 centimeters thick, utilizing a modified bitumen mixture in the top layer to withstand the region's hot climate.

The opening of the toll road follows the signing of a new law on motor roads in August, which establishes the legal framework for such infrastructure, requiring alternative free routes to be available.