S8 highway (Georgia)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| საერთაშორისო 8 | |
| Khashuri-Akhaltsikhe-Vale | |
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 Georgian highway S8 starts in Khashuri | |
| Route information | |
Part of   | |
| Length | 97 km[1] (60 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Khashuri |
| (km)
28 76  Sh1 to Adigeni and Batumi | |
| South end | Turkish border (Vale)  |
| Location | |
| Georgia | |
| Municipalities | Khashuri, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni |
| Highway system | |
| |
The Georgian S8 route (Georgian: საერთაშორისო მნიშვნელობის გზა ს8, Saertashoriso mnishvnelobis gza S8, road of international importance), also known as Khashuri–Akhaltsikhe-Vale (border of the Republic of Turkey), is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian system and runs from Khashuri via Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe to the border with Turkey near Vale over a distance of 97 kilometres (60 mi).[1] After crossing the Georgia–Turkey border the highway continues as D955 to Ardahan. The S8 is a two lane road and is part of European route E691 between Akhaltsikhe and the Turkish border, and part of the Asian Highway AH82 between Khashuri and Akhaltsikhe. It connects with the Georgian S11 highway in Akhaltsikhe. The road is mostly located in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region, while its Khashuri segment is located in the Shida Kartli region. The S8 highway route follows the Kura river through its gorge until Akhaltsikhe and reaches a maximum altitude of 1230 metres (4040 ft) above sea level at the Georgia–Turkey border.
From the early 1980s to 1996 the current S8 route between Khashuri and Akhaltsikhe was referred to as A308 within the Soviet road network. The A308 connected the M27 Soviet highway (now Georgian S1 highway) in Khashuri with the A306 in Akhaltsikhe which ran between Batumi and Gyumri (Armenia). The latter included a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) section West of Akhaltsikhe that is nowadays part of the S8. The remainder of the current S8 between the junction to Batumi and the Turkish border was unnumbered. Prior to the 1980s the route was unnumbered as was the case with most Soviet roads.[2]
When Georgia's road numbering system was revised in 1996 the "roads of international importance" (S-)category was introduced. The "S8 Khashuri - Akhaltsikhe - Vale (border of the Republic of Turkey)" replaced the A308 designation with an additional 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Akhaltsikhe to the Turkish border.[3] This included a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) section that was formerly part of the A306 route.
The S8 is an important route for traffic to the Samtskhe–Javakheti region and tourist destinations Borjomi and Bakuriani. Prior to the opening of the Kartsakhi Georgia–Turkey border crossing via the S13 highway the Vale border crossing played an important role in transit traffic between Turkey and Armenia. Yet, the S8 still plays an important role for through traffic between Georgia and (East-)Turkey. While the Sh1 state highway to Batumi offers a southern connection from the S8 at Akhaltsikhe to the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the dilapidated state of that road in the highlands west of Adigeni reduces its practical use.
Until 2020 the S1 and S8 highways connected directly in the center of Khashuri. In summer 2020 the Khashuri Bypass in the S1 highway opened, which means the S1 bypasses Khashuri between the Agarebi intersection and Surami.[4] The old S1 section from Agarebi into Khashuri and Surami does not have a new road number as of 2021, but inclusion in the Sh203 can be anticipated. The Sh203 was introduced to reassign the old S1 route between Kareli and Agarebi.
Future
As of 2021 there are no plans to upgrade the S8 highway to higher standards, nor are there any plans to bypass Khashuri between the S1 and S8 highways. For the foreseeable future transit traffic will have to continue to pass through Khashuri town.
