A major reconstruction of the highway connecting the city of Zhanaozen with the Turkmen-Kazakh border has started in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region, the 24KZ television channel reported Wednesday.

The road stretches 164 kilometers, with 114 kilometers undergoing medium repairs, while the remaining 50 kilometers—previously unpaved—are being covered with new asphalt.

According to the report, 60 kilometers of the road are scheduled for completion this year, requiring about 100,000 tons of asphalt. The entire project is expected to be finished by the end of 2026, with work progressing strictly on schedule.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered that the reconstruction be completed within the set deadlines. The modernization is also linked to growing trade turnover with Turkmenistan, which exceeded $555 million in 2024, including $335 million in exports.

The new road is expected to become a key factor in developing logistics, trade, and tourism in the region, strengthening bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.