Panorama. Abelgazi Kussainov, Minister of Transport and Communications, conducted a number of meetings on Project implementation for Reconstruction of International Transit Corridor “Western Europe – Western China” last week.

Particularly, mobilization of Contractors and their readiness for construction works in South-Kazakhstan and Zhambyl regions have been considered. According to the Minister, the most important and fundamental for achievement of the final objective in construction works organization is the initial organizational stage. “It covers everything – from timely compiling of the required documents till mobilization of equipment and manpower and commencement of construction works”, Mr. Kussainov stressed. 

The Head of the Ministry gave the task of finalizing all required procedures and timely commencement of construction works to both the regional departments and Contractors of this region.
The required competitive biddings were conducted in South-Kazakhstan Oblast in November last year, and the Contracts were signed with six Contractors, who started preparation for the construction works for the sections with common length of 224 km. Including companies “Dena Rahsaz” (Iran), “Copri Seiser” (Kuweit / Kazakhstan), “Kukdong”, “Posco” (South Korea), “Sinohidro” (China) and JV “Azerkorpu / Tepe” (Azerbaijan/Turkey). The task has been set before these companies to provide arrangement of 140 km of the road.

Unfavourable comments, regarding poor mobilization of equipment and procurement of materials, resulted in backlog of the time schedules, were given to the companies “Posco” and “Sinohidro”. Moreover, letter of notice about comments recovery has been sent to the head offices of the given companies, based on the results of which “the matter of their further participation in the project will be considered”.

One of the key standards, qualifying the Contractors for construction of the Corridor “Western Europe – Western China”, is maximum application of domestic goods and materials, as well as local manpower. In this connection appropriate instructions have been given to all Contractors.

The requirement of “maximum maintenance of historical and cultural monuments of the region” has been also stressed at the meeting. According to the data of MTC, research works, conducted only in the vicinage of Shymkent city, revealed ten archeological monuments along the site of the future “Shymkent city By-Pass”. Including ancient Hurlug settlement, medieval complex Ribads, with the area of 3 hectares, four burial places and two postdate settlements. According to tentative conclusions of the archeologists, they are of great historical value and were built not less than two thousand years ago. Therefore, all discovered monuments, including emergency zone, will be fenced with protective blocks and other fences during the overall construction period.

The construction works in Zhambyl Oblast have been already started in 2009. Construction was executed all over the sections in the above region last year. “Efficient arrangement of mobilization enabled to lay 20 km of asphalt concrete coating, to provide laying of 57 km of cement concrete coating and to open traffic for 50 km of new roads”, has been stressed in the Ministry.
 
According to the data of Mintranscom, 300 km of the road has been planned to arrange in the current year, including 54 km of asphalt concrete coating and 246 km of cement concrete coating. Till date the procurement of building materials has been made in the region, 1288 units of equipment and 3057 people have been mobilized. The work is in progress for construction of bridges, overpasses and interchange.

 Abelgazi Kussainov gave a positive evaluation for the work of Contractors in Zhambyl Oblast, having mentioned the necessity of efficient application of all technical and human resources “without slackening the stated speed” in the forthcoming construction season.

On April 1st “Kazakhdorstroi” LLP, included into holding BI Group and being one of the Main Contractors for the Project “Western Europe – Western China”, started laying of the cement concrete coating on the section 404 -443 km of the highway Taraz – Kordai. The works have been started one month ahead of schedule due to the weather conditions and mobilization of the sufficient number of equipment and building materials. 

According to the data of Mintranscom, till date “Kazakhdorstroi” has disbursed more than 5 billion tenge. 580 people, out of whom 363 are local ones, have been involved in the construction works. 134 units of road-building equipment and 165 units of vehicles have been mobilized. 

We would like to remind you that overall length of the corridor “Western Europe – Western China” is 8 445 km, out of which 2 787 km pass through the territory of Kazakhstan. 2 452 km of the road have been subjected to reconstruction, including transition into I technical category with 4-lane traffic 1 390 km (Kyzykorda - Turkestan - Shymkent - Taraz - Almaty - Horgos), into II technical category with total length of 1 062 km. Modification of geometrical parameters of the route (turns, visibility, slopes) have been provided throughout the corridor.