KALBAJAR, July 25, 2025 — Azerbaijan is nearing completion of a major infrastructure project in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, with 85% of construction finished on the Toghanaly–Kalbajar–Istisu highway, including what is set to become one of the longest road tunnels in the world.
According to the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads, the total length of the highway spans 82 kilometers, connecting the Goygol and Kalbajar districts. The route is divided into a 56 km section from Toghanaly to Kalbajar and a 26 km stretch from Kalbajar to the Istisu resort area.
Beginning at the 16th kilometer, the road climbs into the Murovdag mountain range, where altitudes rise from 1,700 to 3,250 meters above sea level. It is here that the Murovdag Tunnel, the project’s centerpiece, is being constructed — a 23.4-kilometer-long tunnel that will feature four traffic lanes (two in each direction). Upon completion, it will rank among the longest road tunnels globally.
The tunnel comprises two parallel bores measuring 11,711.5 m and 11,690.3 m. So far, 18.1 km of drilling and shotcrete work has been completed. Of the 37 cross-passages linking the two bores, 36 have been built, with the final one under construction.
In addition to the main Murovdag tunnel, the project includes four auxiliary tunnels measuring 561.2 m, 626.9 m, 500 m, and 947.9 m respectively.
The road is being built to Category I, II, and III technical standards, featuring two to four lanes depending on the section. Most of the route conforms to Category II (two lanes plus climbing lanes), while the tunnel section is Category I, designed for four-lane traffic.
Other key components of the project include six interchanges totaling nearly 3 km and 35 connecting roads stretching 4.6 km.
The highway begins in the village of Toghanaly in Goygol District and crosses into Kalbajar, which was returned to Azerbaijani control in 2020. Once completed, the road will offer safe and efficient year-round access to the district center, nearby communities, and the historic Istisu resort, boosting regional connectivity and tourism.
