Armenian Minister of Transport and Communication Manuk Vardanyan said that a Project Implementation Unit for the construction of North-South transport corridor was established in March 2010.

The first stage of design works will be completed in July 2010, after which a tender will be announced to define the contractor, Vardanyan told journalists on June 28.

“The construction of North-South transport corridor is planned to be started in March-April 2011. 18.4km-long section of Yerevan-Ashtarak four-lane road will be restored during the first stage. Besides, the safety of Yerevan-Artashat road will be improved,” said Vardanyan.

The Minister informed that a $90mln loan agreement is envisaged to be signed with the Asian Development bank for the second stage of the program, out of which $13mln will be allocated by the Armenian government. Ashtarak-Talin four-lane road with total length of 40km will be constructed as part of this program.

“Currently, programs on alienation of lands and population settlement are being clarified,” he said.