| 1 Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia Sadakhlo-Algeti Road Section under East-West E-60 Highway Improvement Project Construction and Operation Project Environmental Impact Assessmenemt Tbilisi 2019 | 2 Report Structure In line with Article 10 of the Law of Georgia On „Environmental Assessment Code“ and requirements of Scoping Opinion № 10 (30.01.2019) issued by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the present EIA Report incorporates the following information: CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 2. LEGISLATION AND NORMATIVE ACTS EFFECTIVE IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLANNED ACTIVITY .......................................................................... 9 3. ANALUSIS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS ................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Non-project alternative – substantiation of the project need ............................................................................. 11 3.1.1 Results of Traffic Survey ................................................................................................................................ 12 3.2 Alternative corridors of the highway ................................................................................................................. 13 3.2.1 Alternative 0 – widening the existing road...................................................................................................... 14 3.2.2 Alternate of the New Corridor of the Highway ........................................................................................... 15 3.2.2.1 Comparative Analysis of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 17 3.2.3 Additional Options of the Main Alternate Corridors .................................................................................. 19 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................................. 22 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 Geometric parameters of the Road Alignment ................................................................................................... 27 4.3 Typical cross sections of the motorway .............................................................................................................. 28 4.4 Underpasses/viaducts ........................................................................................................................................ 30 4.5 Bridges ................................................................................................................................................................ 33 4.6 Water pipes (culverts) ........................................................................................................................................ 35 4.7 Road pavement ................................................................................................................................................... 38 4.8 Drainage systems and protection against erosion ............................................................................................... 39 4.9 Road Safety ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 4.10 Construction Organization ............................................................................................................................... 44 4.10.1 Proposed camp site ........................................................................................................................................ 45 4.10.2 Dumpsites ...................................................................................................................................................... 45 4.10.3 Supposed list of construction techniques ....................................................................................................... 46 4.10.4 Sources of Construction Material .................................................................................................................. 47 4.10.5 Water Supply-Sanitation ............................................................................................................................... 48 4.10.6 Relocating engineering and utility lines ........................................................................................................ 49 4.10.7 Traffic Management during Construction ..................................................................................................... 50 | 3 4.10.8 Temporary access roads ................................................................................................................................. 52 4.10.9 Recultivation of the temporarily used areas and hard shoulders .............................................................. 52 4.10.10 Road construction works - summary ........................................................................................................ 52 5 NATURAL AND SOCIAL-ECONOMIC STATE OF THE PROJECT CORRIDOR – BACKGROUND PROPERTIES, FIELD STUDY RESULTS.................................................................................................................. 53 5.1 Physical-geographical and administrative location ............................................................................................ 53 5.2 Description of natural environmental objects .................................................................................................... 54 5.2.1 Microclimatic properties ................................................................................................................................. 57 5.2.2 Climate change ........................................................................................................................................ 59 5.2.3 Geology ............................................................................................................................................................ 63 5.2.3.1 Geomorphological conditions ....................................................................................................................... 63 5.2.3.2 Geology ........................................................................................................................................................ 64 5.2.3.3 Hydro-geology .............................................................................................................................................. 66 5.2.3.4 Tectonics and seismicity3 ............................................................................................................................. 67 5.2.3.5 Engineering Geological Survey ..................................................................................................................... 71 5.2.3.5.1 Engineering Geological Survey by CPTu Sounding ................................................................................... 73 5.2.3.5.2 Results of the Laboratory Tests ................................................................................................................. 76 5.2.3.5.3 Empirical soil parameters .......................................................................................................................... 78 5.2.3.5.4 Conclusions and reccomendations .......................................................................................................... 78 5.2.4 Soil ................................................................................................................................................................... 81 5.2.5 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................................................... 81 5.2.5.1 Water peak discharges .................................................................................................................................. 83 5.3 Biological environment ................................................................................................................................ 88 5.3.1 Flora and vegetation cover .............................................................................................................................. 89 5.3.1.1 General decsription of the vegetation cover ................................................................................................. 89 5.3.1.2 Detailed botanical study of the study area .................................................................................................... 90 5.3.1.3 Red-Listed Species ................................................................................................................................ 101 5.3.2 Fauna and their habitats ................................................................................................................................ 102 5.3.2.1 General description of the project corridor ...............................................................................................