BUILD AND YE SHALL REACH

Hardly anyone would argue today that, in a matter of a few years, Azerbaijan has achieved infrastructural development at a pace to make the world's most developed countries envious.  In the last three to five years, major facilities have been put into operation almost every month, modernising and improving transport, communications, urban, regional, communal and other types of infrastructure.  The importance attached by the state to this process is demonstrated by the fact that President Ilham Aliyev not only participates personally in the launching ceremonies of these projects, but also periodically monitors their implementation, thus placing even greater responsibility on the builders.  Incidentally, besides the main goal of these projects - improving and making people's everyday lives more comfortable - there are also many positive 'side effects', including new jobs, greater attractiveness for tourists and the development of medium-size and large businesses.  Touching on the latter, let us stress that although contracts for construction or reconstruction of infrastructure, as well as funding for projects, are released by state, the project contractors and subcontractors are private companies; this enables them to grow and expand.

One clear example is the AzVirt LLC, with its successful record of work on state contracts for important transport infrastructure projects.

Contribution to regional development

Let us note in advance that the AzVirt company offers a full range of services in its field of operations:  building and repairing motorways, bridges and airports, manufacturing road building materials, design work and so on.

Thanks to the introduction of latest technologies, literally from the very first days of the company's operation, and its accumulated experience and professionalism, AzVirt quickly became one of the most trusted companies in the country.  The availability of highly skilled staff with both the extensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills required in the company's area of operations also played an important role.  Incidentally, the former factor enables the company to conduct applied research to introduce various cutting-edge technologies.  For example, AzVirt is the first and the only company in Azerbaijan to use stone mastic asphalt, resin mixes and bituminous concrete asphalt.  Activated mineral particles are used in the manufacture of bituminous concrete tarmac.  Company Executive Director Kamil Aliyev said that in view of the fact that the company conducts the full cycle of work in road building, beginning with geodesy and design and ending with construction and putting into operation, AzVirt 's cooperation with other enterprises is increasingly effective, and this too has a positive effect on the quality and timely completion of projects.

Good quality is the company's main requirement of the staff involved in implementing company projects.  Incidentally, AzVirt complies with all international standards.  The company's experts believe that quality standards in Germany, the United States and CIS countries are not so different, which is why meeting them all is not too difficult in principle.  New infrastructure is built along the highways and draining and communications systems are added - all this is done in full conformity with all construction standards.  Let us note that in 2008, AzVirt received the ISO 9001:2000 standard compliance certificate.

As already mentioned, this has helped the company to secure nationally important, large-scale projects for more than 10 years.  For example, within the framework of the State Programme for the Social and Economic Development of the Regions (for 2004-2008), AzVirt conducted reconstruction work on the runway, ramp and guide tracks of Ganca airport and the bituminous concrete road from the Ganca-Qazax motorway to the airport.

Among the company's airport projects, there was also the total reconstruction of Azalhelikopter's helipads in Zabrat, completed in 2007. One year later, the two-year project to reconstruct the aerodrome, cargo terminal, rail station square and access road at Lankaran airport was completed.  Almost simultaneously, work to repair and reconstruct the Zaqatala airport runway was completed.

Roads, bridges, traffic intersections

Of course, all the above-mentioned projects were a noticeable contribution to the overall programme of development of infrastructure in the regions.  However, AzVirt's operations are not limited to them:  The company also has experience of carrying out important projects in Baku, within the framework of the action plan to improve the capital's transport system.  The company took part in building modern roads and motorway facilities, bridges, pedestrian underpasses and overpasses and so on.  One of the best examples was the project to reconstruct and widen the motorway from Azizbayov circle to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which improved safety and comfort on the route.

Four lanes of the eight- to 12-lane motorway are intended for high-speed traffic.  In line with the project, the eight-lane 12.2-km motorway was built from Azizbayov to Sabuncu circle to better accommodate traffic within the populated area. To regulate the traffic, three interchanges, a bridge, a tunnel, six surface-level pedestrian crossings, with one underground passage, were built and measures were taken to drain rain and subsoil waters from the surface of the motorway.  Literally a few days ago, a ceremony to open a number of important facilities built by AzVirt as part of the action plan to improve the country's transport system for the period 2008-2013 was held with the participation of President Aliyev.  Kamil Aliyev said that the company had been charged with the reconstruction of the 19-km road from H. Aliyev International Airport to the town of Bilga and the 14-km section of the Bilga-Novxani-Sumqayit highway, and that the project was already 65-70% completed.  Among the facilities completed is the cloverleaf, two-level interchange at the airport.  A highly important facility, the interchange regulates in complete safety the unhindered flow of traffic from Zix to the airport and from Baku to Mardakan.  We should note that the work on the airport interchange, begun in May 2011, was conducted to the highest quality standards.  The total length of the motorways at the cloverleaf interchange is 6.757 km.  The two directional bridge, with four spans, is 127 metres long and 39.8 metres wide.  The bridge was built with pre-stressed reinforced concrete.  A modern draining system 8.8 kilometres in total length was also installed; grassing and landscaping work was carried out around the facility.  The bridge is resistant to earthquakes of scale 9 and its service life is 100 years.

In addition to the interchange, AzVirt built another important facility within the project - the traffic interchange on the airport- Zagulba motorway.  A suspension bridge with steel vaults was built there; its service life is also 100 years.  The bridge doubles as a pedestrian crossing.  In the past, intense traffic on this motorway created difficulties for safe crossing.  The pedestrian zone on the bridge has eliminated the risk. Steps were built for pedestrians on both sides of the motorway and there are 4-metre-wide pedestrian passages in both directions.  The facility is important for the regulation of unimpeded traffic flow from Bina to Baku and Mardakan and the reverse direction.  As for the quality of construction work, the best assessment was given by President Ilham Aliyev:  "The most advanced technologies are already in use in all areas in Azerbaijan, including in the building of roads and bridges.  This bridge is in no way inferior to those in the cities of the most advanced countries, and it might even be superior, because the latest cutting-edge technologies were used."

As already mentioned, AzVirt continues to work on road construction under the programme, and next in line for completion is the motorway from Heydar Aliyev International Airport to Bilga. Work is under way on several facilities there and the project is to be completed by the end of this year.

So, the company will affix its signature to several more important projects to facilitate unimpeded traffic flow, comfort of travel and improved visual appeal for the capital's outskirts.  In ending, it would be appropriate to cite President Ilham Aliyev who always appreciates highly the participation of Azerbaijani companies in large-scale projects of this kind:  "There are already very strong, modern companies in this field in Azerbaijan.  The money stays in Azerbaijan, our people have jobs, and the country develops."