Azernews.Az

By Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijan is ranked 1st among the CIS countries in the quality of roads and ranked 36th, gaining 4.8 points, according to the Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018.

The quality of roads was assessed on a scale of one to seven points. In terms of the quality of road infrastructure Azerbaijan has outstripped many neighboring countries: Armenia (85th place - 3.7 points), Georgia (82nd - 3.8 points), Russia (114th - 2.9 points), Kazakhstan (115th - 2, 9 points), and Ukraine (130 - 2.4 points). Turkey came in 30th with 5 points.

The best roads are in the United Arab Emirates (6.4 points), Singapore (6.3 points), Switzerland (6.3 points), Hong Kong (6.2 points), the Netherlands (6.1 points), Japan (6.1 points), France (six points), Portugal (six points), Austria (six points), and the U.S. (5.7 points).

The worst roads are in Mauritania, which gained 2 points. It is followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. Both of them gained 2.1 points.

A lot of work is being done to create and expand the transport infrastructure of the country. Due to invested funds, the transport sector of Azerbaijan developed rapidly and successfully. As in Baku, and in various regions of the country, new modern transportation facilities are being built.

In 2017, 1,335 kilometers of roads were built, repaired and reconstructed in Azerbaijan, 314.4 km of which are the roads of the republican, 888.7 km - local significance.

About 133 kilometers of roads were laid, repaired and reconstructed in Baku.

In addition, in 2017, 15 bridges were built, nine were repaired in Azerbaijan, 15 ground and underground pedestrian crossings were also constructed.

In 2018 it is planned to build, repair and reconstruct over 2,000 kilometers of roads.

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Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

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