Landslide Warning Prompts Traffic Restrictions in Dariali

Traffic in Dariali gorge, close to the Kazbegi-Zemo Larsi border-crossing point with Russia in the northern mountainous part of Georgia, will be restricted from June 6 because of a natural hazard warning, the Georgian Department of Roads said on Friday.

It said that movement of all types of vehicles will be prohibited from 7pm to 7am starting from June 6.

Traffic will be not be restricted during the daytime, although vehicles won’t be allowed to park or temporarily stop anywhere in that section of the road.

The section of the road was hit with major landslides twice last year in May and August, killing several people, damaging road, border-crossing infrastructure, and the pipeline carrying Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia.

The road is also important for Armenia as it is currently the only available link with Russia for the country via land.