The tender was announced to reconstruct 74-km road with replacement of 2 asphalt lanes to 4 lanes of cement concrete pavement.

In line with the tender terms, all interested companies should submit their tender proposals till 22 April 2011.

The announcement said that it is anticipated that the contract will be awarded in May 2011 (contractor mobilization in July 2011). Construction duration is scheduled within 18 months including mobilization period.

The reconstruction works of road will be financed due to loan of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Republic of Uzbekistan has applied for the loan for US$600 million of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) using ADB's Second Multitranche Financing Facility (MFF-2) towards the cost of road reconstruction of about 271 Km of national highways from 2 asphalt lanes to 4 lanes of cement concrete pavement under the CAREC Corridor 2 Road Investment Program.

The announcement said it is intended that part of the proceeds of the MFF-2 will be applied to payments under Tranche 1 civil works contract Reconstruction of A373 Tashkent Road Section from km 116 to km 190 (74 km) for which this invitation for bids is issued. The first tranche will make up US$190 million. It is expected that the ADB Board will consider issuing loan in June 2011.

As earlier reported, in April 2010, the ADB issued loan for US$600 million within the ADB’s Multitranche Financing Facility, which was allocated to the reconstruction of 222 km of national highway in 2010-2012.

The funds will be directed to reconstruct over 220 kilometers of the A380 highway, and to provide training support for improved planning, project management, road asset management, and community facilities.

The A380 highway forms part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC) and one of its corridors – Corridor 2. This connects Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Upgrading the highway into a four-lane international design-standard road, rehabilitating other sections, and improving road planning and management will shorten travel time, reduce transport costs, improve safety, and support growth and poverty reduction.