Uzbekistan breaks ground on $2.2-billion expressway linking Tashkent and Samarkand

Uzbekistan launched construction of a sweeping new expressway connecting Tashkent and Samarkand on 22 July 2026, with a ceremony attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as reported by Gazeta.uz and Kun.uz. The project ranks among the most ambitious road-infrastructure investments the country has ever undertaken.

The six-lane highway will stretch 282 km at a design speed of up to 150 km/h. Once open — expected by 2030 — it will trim the road journey between Uzbekistan’s capital and the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand from around five hours to just 2.5. China Overseas Engineering Group (COVEC) won the construction tender, with the total project cost coming to nearly $2.2 billion.

The engineering scope is substantial: 92 bridges, 28 overpasses, and 60 tunnel-type crossings, along with more than 12 motorway service areas spaced roughly every 50 kilometres. Daily traffic capacity is projected at 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles.

For travellers, the expressway means a fast, comfortable road link between Uzbekistan’s two most-visited destinations. Combined with the already-running high-speed rail service, visitors planning a classic Silk Road itinerary will soon have more flexibility than ever in how they move between Tashkent and Samarkand.