The key facts

  • The bridge across the Karadarya will connect the 'Shirin' neighborhood with Samarkand and the airport; cost — 310 billion soums, length — 780 m, four lanes, up to 25,000 vehicles per day.
  • After opening, the route from 'Shirin' to the center will shrink from 23 to 4 km, travel time — by 30 minutes.
  • Sources differ on the bridge's height (2 m or 12 m); earlier reports mentioned a 330 m project worth 260 billion soums.

The President's Visit and Project Parameters

On October 18, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during a trip to Samarkand region, reviewed the progress of construction of the bridge across the Karadarya river, the press service of the head of state reported. The bridge will connect the under-construction residential neighborhood 'Shirin' with the city of Samarkand and the international airport. According to the press service, the project is intended to optimize traffic flows, ensure road safety, and reduce road congestion. The project cost is 310 billion soums, the bridge length is 780 meters, and the width is 29.8 meters. The roadway will include four lanes, with a capacity of up to 25,000 vehicles per day. Sources differ on the height of the structure: most outlets indicate 2 meters, while Spot.uz — 12 meters.

Impact on Residents

After the facility is put into operation, the distance from the 'Shirin' neighborhood to the city center will shrink from 23 to 4 kilometers, and travel time will decrease by 30 minutes. The President was presented with information about the project's technical solutions and options for regulating traffic flows.

The President's Statements

During the presentation, Mirziyoyev spoke with activists. According to him, in 2016 Uzbekistan was visited by only 1 million 200 thousand tourists, while today Samarkand alone receives 5 million tourists annually. 'If we develop projects competently and organize logistics rationally, we will be able to reduce people's expenses and travel time. After all, the city is for people! This bridge was one of my cherished goals. Today this dream has come true,' the President said. He also emphasized every person's responsibility to the people and the country, noting that in a recent speech he repeatedly stressed the words 'our own,' 'we ourselves,' 'our identity,' 'ours.'

Context of the 'Shirin' Neighborhood and Timeline Data

Mirziyoyev first reviewed the master plan of the 'Shirin' neighborhood in June 2023; a site on the banks of the Zarafshan near the airport was chosen for construction. In January 2025, the Legislative Chamber approved the expansion of Samarkand's boundaries: 413 hectares of land from the Samarkand and Akdarya districts were transferred to the city for the neighborhood. According to Gazeta.uz, at an October 2026 meeting the President criticized the pace of construction, noting that entrepreneurs had been allocated only 19 hectares and the relocation of buildings of regional agencies had not begun; at the same time, it was announced that benefits introduced for New Tashkent would be extended to 'Shirin.' According to Daryo.uz, construction of the bridge began in 2022 and should be completed in 2026; the general contractor is the unitary enterprise '1st Bridge-Building Detachment'; earlier reports mentioned a structure length of 330 meters and a cost of 260 billion soums, which differs from the current data of the press service.