Development of a Road Maintenance Strategy and Guideline for Georgia

The assignment aims to improve the management and maintenance of Georgia’s road network through the development of a comprehensive Road Maintenance Strategy and a complementary Road Maintenance Guideline. The project addresses the need for systematic, sustainable and evidence-based road maintenance to preserve infrastructure condition, improve road user safety and efficiency, and optimize the use of available resources.

The assignment covers the road network managed by the Roads Department of Georgia (RD), comprising approximately 1,518 km of international roads and 5,538 km of secondary roads. It begins with an assessment of existing road maintenance practices, institutional arrangements, technical capacities, planning and budgeting processes, financing mechanisms, and maintenance contracting approaches. The assessment will identify gaps and opportunities for improvement, drawing on international best practices and relevant European Union approaches.

Based on the assessment findings, the project will support the preparation of a Road Maintenance Strategy defining the long-term objectives for road network management, asset management priorities, required financing, institutional development measures, and appropriate maintenance contracting modalities. A complementary Road Maintenance Guideline will provide practical and technical guidance on maintenance categories, implementation methods, specifications, equipment requirements, service levels, performance evaluation, monitoring, cost estimation, and work zone safety.

The assignment also includes a capacity-building programme for RD staff and relevant road agency personnel, combining classroom training, on-the-job training, and the preparation of supporting manuals and guidance materials. Gender considerations will be integrated where relevant, with an emphasis on balanced participation and equal opportunities for women and men in capacity development activities.

IRD Engineering’s responsibilities include:

• Mobilization of the consulting team and preparation of the Inception Report, including the work programme and implementation schedule.
• Assessment of existing road maintenance practices, legislation, regulations, institutional arrangements, technical capacities, and maintenance performance.
• Review of road network data, road asset management systems, maintenance planning and budgeting procedures, and financing requirements.
• Evaluation of existing maintenance contracting arrangements and identification of opportunities to improve efficiency, performance, and value for money.
• Preparation of the Road Maintenance Strategy, including strategic objectives, asset management priorities, financing mechanisms, institutional development measures, contracting modalities, and an implementation action plan.
• Preparation of the Road Maintenance Guideline, covering maintenance categories and methods, contract templates, technical specifications, equipment requirements, service levels, performance evaluation, inspections, cost estimation, and work zone safety.
• Development and implementation of a capacity-building programme addressing identified institutional and technical capacity gaps.
• Preparation and presentation of the required reports and deliverables, including workshops with the Roads Department and relevant stakeholders, and incorporation of their feedback into the final documents.

The assignment will provide Georgia with a structured framework for road maintenance planning and implementation, supporting more consistent maintenance practices, improved asset management, more effective use of maintenance funding, and stronger institutional capacity across the road sector.