Kazakhstan expands road, rail, port networks to cement Eurasian transit role
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Kazakhstan is modernizing nearly 9,000 km of highways and building over 750 km of new railways as part of a strategy to strengthen its position as a transit bridge between Europe and Asia. The projects include upgrades to the Aktau and Kuryk seaports and involve about 12,000 pieces of equipment and more than 25,000 specialists.
Key Facts
- Kazakhstan is modernizing nearly 9,000 km of highways and building over 750 km of new railways.
- About 12,000 pieces of equipment and more than 25,000 specialists are involved in road construction projects.
- Rail freight volume reached a record 318 million tonnes last year.
- Over the past five years, 5,000 km of railways have been built or modernized, with work planned on another 2,200 km over the next three years.
- The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route connects Kazakhstan to Europe via the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Road Network Expansion
Kazakhstan is implementing major road projects on several corridors: Aktobe–Ulgaisyn, Kyzylorda–Saksaulsk, Beineu–Saksaulsk, Karaganda–Zhezkazgan, and Atyrau–Dossor. The projects will use 10 million cubic meters of crushed stone and 1.3 million tonnes of domestic bitumen, according to KazAvtoZhol press service specialist Abzal Ilyas. By the end of the year, main construction work on the Kyzylorda–Zhezkazgan road section in Ulytau region is planned to be completed, fully opening traffic between the two regions.
Railway Modernization
Kazakhstan's railway network is about 16,000 km long, one of the longest in Central Asia. Rail freight volume exceeded 318 million tonnes last year, a record, driven by large-scale infrastructure modernization. Over the past five years, 5,000 km of railways have been built or modernized, including the Dostyk–Moiynty project and the Almaty bypass station. Over the next three years, work is planned on 2,200 km of railways, including the Bakhty–Ayagoz, Darbaza–Maktaaral, and Kyzylzhar–Moiynty projects.
Port and Aviation Links
About 20 international airports operate in Kazakhstan, with hundreds of transit flights crossing its airspace daily. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route connects Kazakhstan to Europe via the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The seaports of Aktau and Kuryk are being modernized as part of this route. Kuryk port currently handles oil and oil products, grain, metals, petrochemical products, and other cargo, with plans to expand berth infrastructure to increase transshipment volumes, according to General Director Yerkin Nygmetov.
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Kazakhstan expands road, rail, port networks to cement Eurasian transit role
