Since the introduction of the current system, the Georgian network of numbered roads has been gradually expanding. In 2011, the
S13 was added as an S-trunk highway, promoted from an Sh-road, after the decision to open a new border crossing with
Turkey. Adjustment in highway lengths occur due to realignments. Most of the growth in the route network is achieved with the Sh roads of domestic importance. In 2006 the amount of routes increased considerably due to a major reassessment. The table below does not specify A-roads of local importance as data is generally not very consistent or complete to create a reliable picture. S and Sh roads fall under the responsibility of the Roads Department of the
Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia while local A roads are the responsibility of
municipalities.
Roads of international importance The S-roads "of international importance" are indicated by a blue shield with white letters. The expressway or motorway sections are marked with a green shield with white letters. These highways are numbered
ს1 to
ს13 (or S1 to S13). Eleven of these terminate at Georgia's international border, while two act as
connectors within the S-network (
S9 and
S12). The S9 is the mandatory bypass around Tbilisi for international transit traffic between the
S1,
S4 and
S5 highways, while the S12 connects S1 and
S2 highways via a shorter route to/from Turkey. Two S-routes run partially through
Abkhazia (S1) and
South Ossetia (S10) regions which sections are beyond control of Georgian authorities. Through travel is not possible from/to Tbilisi controlled territory, except for foot passage into Abkhazia. However, these roads serve traffic with
Russia from within both regions. Most of the roughly of S-roads are in a good or acceptable condition with an asphalt or concrete surface. Typically they have been built as two-lane
highway. Limited sections have been upgraded since 2006 to
motorway and
2 or 4 lane expressway and this is gradually expanding. These upgrades are mostly related to the
E60/
E70 East-West Highway project, an internationally sponsored project to upgrade the (East-West) transport corridor through Georgia, connecting
Azerbaijan,
Armenia and
Turkey. Most S-routes are part of
European E-roads which are often signposted together with the Georgian road numbers. Three
Asian Highway Network routes traverse Georgia, but these are not signposted.
Roads of domestic importance The vast network of domestic
შ Sh-roads connects vital regions with each other and the capital. By far most of these routes are relatively short, but some routes are quite long, up to nearly 200 km. The longer Sh-roads are interregional in nature while others are designed as part of a subregional network, provide access to the main S-highways or remote mountain valleys. The list of Sh-routes is slowly expanding. Recent additions
შ203,
შ204,
შ 205 and
შ 208 are former parts of the
S1,
S2 and
S12 highways, renumbered to Sh-road after realignment of sections of these highways. More of such additions can be expected with the ongoing and scheduled realignment of parts of key S-highways. At the same time, new important regional routes are being built in mountain regions and elsewhere, such as the
შ 209 Sachkhere -
Oni road. The condition of Sh-roads varies from excellent to horrid. From newly sealed (asphalt) to unsealed or lacking decades of reconstruction. This mixed picture also applies to long distance Sh-routes. That said, with the limited resources the state has, some key projects have been launched since 2006, and increasingly so since 2014. The Sh7 road to
Mestia in the
Svaneti mountain valley and the long distance Sh31 through the southern
Samtskhe-Javakheti region were key regional road projects during the tenure of 3rd President
Saakashvili. In more recent years other long and medium distance roads in the regions in partially or wholly terrible shape have been reconstructed, such as the Sh16 through
Racha, the Sh26 to
Shatili, the Sh38 across the
Gombori mountains and others. Also, the construction of regional bypasses, such as the new Sh207
Gurjaani-
Bakurtsikhe Bypass, are a point of attention. Overall, the quality of the regional road network is improving with the years, but large sections remain in bad (unsealed) condition under sometimes harsh climatic conditions, especially in the mountainous regions. ==Speed limits==