The Georgian Roads Department said tenders announced in August 2024 for the Rustavi–Tsiteli Bridge and the Algeti–Sadakhlo road section were cancelled due to low competition among bidders.
The procurement process covered both construction works and project supervision services.
The planned infrastructure is part of international transport routes connecting Georgia with neighbouring countries and wider Eurasian trade networks.
The project included building a 61.3-kilometre four-lane concrete expressway equipped with lighting systems, along with 26 bridges and 11 interchanges designed to improve traffic flow and safety.
The road sections form part of the regional East–West Corridor and North–South Corridor, which connect the South Caucasus to trade routes linking Europe and Asia.
Construction had originally been scheduled to start in 2025 and be completed in phases over around 30 months.
The project was jointly financed by the Georgian government and the European Investment Bank, which allocated a €250 million loan.
Officials say the main reason behind the cancellation was low participation in the bidding process.
Limited competition in large infrastructure tenders can indicate several issues, including concerns about project costs, complex technical requirements, or market uncertainty affecting international construction companies.
Governments often cancel and relaunch tenders under revised conditions in order to attract more bidders.
