Regional Distance & Transit Time Matrix

This section defines the distances and transit timelines from the Poti Port gates to key industrial and distribution hubs within the country:

Poti — Tbilisi (Capital & Central Distribution Hub):

• Route: S-2 highway (Senaki-Poti-Sarpi) connecting to the country's main artery S-1 (Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze), which forms part of the European route E60.

• Exact Distance: ~330 km.

• Truck Transit Time: 5.5 – 7 hours (depending on traffic density).

Infrastructure Specifics: The route crosses the strategic Rikoti Pass. During the winter season or scheduled roadworks, the Roads Department regularly introduces restrictions for long and oversized vehicles, shifting them to a reverse schedule or night-time transit.

Poti — Batumi (Second Largest Port & Free Industrial Zone):

• Route: S-2 highway, which is part of the European corridor E70.

• Exact Distance: ~80 km.

• Truck Transit Time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours.

Infrastructure Specifics: The highway runs along the coastline. Despite the availability of the Kobuleti Bypass, traffic volume increases significantly during the summer tourist season (June–September), which can cause local transit delays.

The delivery matrix from Poti terminals to the official land Border Crossing Points (BCPs) on the borders of neighboring states:

To Turkey — Sarpi BCP:

• Distance: ~95 km. Direction: South (via Batumi).

• Pure Driving Transit Time: 2.5 – 3.5 hours (excluding customs queuing and clearance time).

Logistics Role: The primary automotive gateway for cargo export and transit towards Istanbul, Mediterranean ports, and EU countries.

To Turkey — Kartsakhi BCP:

• Distance: ~310 km. Direction: Southwest (via Khashuri, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, and Akhalkalaki).

• Pure Driving Transit Time: 6.5 – 8 hours.

Logistics Role: A high-altitude alternative corridor actively utilized to relieve traffic from the Sarpi route and for direct freight runs to Ankara.

To Azerbaijan — Red Bridge BCP:

• Route: Transit via the S-1 (E60) highway, bypassing the capital via the Tbilisi Bypass Road S-9, and connecting to the S-4 highway (Tbilisi — Red Bridge).

• Distance: ~410 km. Direction: East.

• Pure Driving Transit Time: 7.5 – 9 hours.

Logistics Role: The main land artery of the Middle Corridor (TRACECA) for container deliveries to the Port of Baku (Alat) followed by feeder or ferry transshipment to Central Asia.

To Armenia — Sadakhlo BCP:

• Route: Via the S-1 highway, continuing through the S-9 bypass, and shifting to the southern highways S-6 (Phonichala — Marneuli) and S-7 (Marneuli — Sadakhlo).

• Distance: ~400 km. Direction: Southeast.

• Pure Driving Transit Time: 7.5 – 9 hours.

Logistics Role: The primary distribution route for supplying Armenia with imported goods and raw materials arriving at the Port of Poti.

To Russia — Kazbegi BCP (Verkhniy Lars):

• Route: Via the S-1 highway to the Natakhtari interchange, turning onto the Georgian Military Road — S-3 highway (Mtskheta — Stepantsminda — Lars).

• Distance: ~470 km. Direction: Northeast.

• Pure Driving Transit Time: 10 – 13 hours.

Infrastructure Specifics: Extreme mountain terrain passing through the Jvari (Cross) Pass (elevation 2,379 meters). During the autumn-winter period (November–May), this corridor is regularly blocked due to avalanche hazards and heavy icing, which logistics planners must account for when securing supply chains.

Official Registry of Motor Roads and Mileage

საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №407 „საერთაშორისო და შიდასახელმწიფოებრივი მნიშვნელობის საავტომобილო გზების ნუსხის დამტკიცების შესახებ“

Customs Infrastructure and BCP Status

საქართველოს ფინანსთა სამინისტროს შემოსავლების სამსახური — საბაჟო გამშვები პუნქტები