| 1 Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia Rustavi-Red Bridge Road Section of E-60 East-West Highway Construction and Operation Project Environmental Impact Assessmenemt (EIA) Tbilisi 2019 | 2 Report Structure In line with Article 10 of the Law of Georgia On „Environmental Assessment Code“ and requirements of Scoping Opinion № 13 (25.06.2018) issued by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the present EIA Report incorporates the following information: CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 2. LEGISLATION AND NORMATIVE ACTS EFFECTIVE IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLANNED ACTIVITY ................................................................... 10 3. ANALUSIS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS ............................................................................................................. 11 3.1.1 Non-project alternative – substantiation of the project need ..................................................................... 11 3.1.1.1 Results of the study of traffic flows .......................................................................................................... 12 3.1.2 Alternative corridors of the highway.......................................................................................................... 12 3.1.3 Description of the alternative corridors of the highway ............................................................................. 14 3.1.3.1 Alternative 0 – widening the existing road .............................................................................................. 14 3.1.3.2 Alternative options of the new highway corridor ................................................................................... 14 3.1.3.3 Comparative analysis of alternatives ........................................................................................................ 17 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................................ 19 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 19 4.2 Geometric parameters of the Road Alignment .............................................................................................. 24 4.3 Typical cross sections of the motorway ......................................................................................................... 25 4.4 Viaducts ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.5 Bridges ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 4.6 Box culverts ................................................................................................................................................... 37 4.7 Road pavement .............................................................................................................................................. 39 4.8 Drainage systems and protection against erosion .......................................................................................... 39 4.9 Road Safety .................................................................................................................................................... 43 4.10 Construction Organization .......................................................................................................................... 43 4.10.1 Construction Camp ................................................................................................................................... 44 4.10.2 Dumpsites.................................................................................................................................................. 48 4.10.3 Supposed list of construction techniques .................................................................................................. 50 4.10.4 Sources of Construction Material .............................................................................................................. 53 4.10.5 Water Supply-Sanitation ........................................................................................................................... 54 4.10.6 Relocating engineering and utility lines ................................................................................................... 55 4.10.7 Traffic Management during Construction ................................................................................................ 57 4.10.8 Temporary access roads ............................................................................................................................. 57 | 3 4.10.9 Recultivation of the temporarily used areas and hard shoulders .............................................................. 57 5 NATURAL AND SOCIAL-ECONOMIC STATE OF THE PROJECT CORRIDOR – BACKGROUND PROPERTIES, FIELD STUDY RESULTS ......................................................................................... 58 5.1 Physical-geographical and administrative location ....................................................................................... 58 5.2 Description of natural environmental objects ............................................................................................... 59 5.2.1 Microclimatic properties ............................................................................................................................. 62 5.2.2 Climate change ................................................................................................................................. 6465 Summary of Climate Action Calculation ..................................................................................................................... 67 5.2.3 Geology ............................................................................................................................................. 6768 5.2.3.1 General geology .................................................................................................................................... 6768 5.2.3.2 Geomorphology ................................................................................................................................... 7071 5.2.3.3 Geological sections made within the project area ................................................................................ 7071 5.2.3.4 Tectonics and seismicity ...................................................................................................................... 7172 5.2.3.4.1 Seismically active faults and seismic source zones (SSZ) of the area ................................................. 7374 5.2.3.5 Hydro-geology ..................................................................................................................................... 7576 5.2.3.6 Engineering Geological Survey ............................................................................................................ 7778 5.2.3.6.1 Engineering Geological Survey by CPTu Sounding .......................................................................... 7980 5.2.3.6.2 Engineering-geological Explorations by Trial Pit ............................................................................. 8384 5.2.3.7 Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 8485 5.2.4 Soil .......................................................................................................................................................... 8687 5.2.5 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................... 8788 5.2.5.1 Water peak discharges ......................................................................................................................... 8889 5.3 Biological environment ....................................................................................................................... 9394 5.3.1 Flora and vegetation cover ...................................................................................................................... 9394 5.3.1.1 General decsription of the vegetation cover ........................................................................................ 9394 5.3.1.2 Detailed botanical study of the study area and study methods ............................................................ 9596 5.3.2 Taxation results of timber resources in the project area ........................................................................... 103 5.3.3 Fauna and their habitats............................................................................................................................ 104 5.3.3.1 General description of the project corridor ............................................................................................ 104 5.3.3.2 Animal species common in the project corridor and adjacent to it ....................................................... 105 5.3.4 Protected Areas ........................................................................................................................................