Uzbekistan widens A380 highway on China-Europe freight corridor

Uzbekistan is adding lanes to part of its A380 highway to improve freight links between China and western markets, including Europe. The US$48.7 million project in Karakalpakstan will turn a 25-kilometre section between Nukus and Urgench into a four-lane road, up from two lanes.

Bahodir Boltaboyev, deputy director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Project Implementation Group, said approximately three kilometres still needed concrete surfacing, while an overpass also required further work. He said daily traffic was expected to reach 14,000 to 15,000 vehicles after completion, compared with around 6,000 to 7,000 previously.

A separate 240-kilometre section extending northwest from Kungrad towards the Kazakhstan border was finished in 2024. Damir Mamutov, general manager of freight company Promizvest Servis, said journeys over the 240–250 kilometres between Kungrad and Beyneu now took three to four hours, rather than at least 10 to 12 hours. He also reported fewer tyre and suspension repairs.

The broader road programme has a US$383.4 million budget, comprising US$274.2 million in ADB loans and US$109.2 million from Uzbekistan’s government. The A380 belongs to Corridor 2 under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme, which involves 11 countries.

Border delays and customs procedures remain obstacles to freight movement despite the road improvements. Begzod Djalilov, an ADB regional cooperation specialist, said work to modernise crossings included digital procedures and electronic truck queues.

In August 2026, the ADB approved a separate US$400 million financing facility for the CAREC region. Named Border Upgrades for Integration, Logistics, and Development (BUILD), it supports modernisation of road and rail crossings through digital systems, inspection equipment and improved border management.