The commentary by IAIS Visiting Junior Fellows offers a comparative and on-the-ground perspective on Uzbekistan’s road infrastructure, blending personal travel observations with policy analysis. Drawing parallels with Canada’s vast but well-connected highway system, the authors underscore the challenges Uzbekistan faces in developing safe, efficient, and sustainable road networks. They recount travel experiences across regions such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Nukus, and Muynak, highlighting pervasive potholes, uneven surfaces, and risky driving behaviors that undermine road safety. These firsthand accounts are reinforced by statistics from the United Nations and the World Health Organization, which reveal high accident rates and a significant economic cost—2.8% of GDP—associated with road incidents.
The fellows argue that inadequate road conditions not only compromise safety but also limit Uzbekistan’s economic potential. Citing World Bank data, they note that road freight capacity must increase dramatically—by nearly 500% by 2030—to meet future demand. While rail infrastructure, such as the Afrosiyab high-speed service, offers strong intercity connectivity, they suggest roads should prioritize regional and “last-mile” links, particularly to smaller towns and vulnerable areas like Muynak. They highlight opportunities for Uzbekistan to leverage foreign investment, including from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to address infrastructure deficits and integrate into emerging Trans-Caspian trade corridors.
Government initiatives, including the 2035 Transport Development Strategy and major projects like the $4.28 billion Tashkent–Andijan expressway, signal a strong political will to modernize the sector. However, the authors caution that large-scale projects should be matched with investments in safety measures, urban traffic management, and long-term maintenance budgets—areas where Canadian experience offers instructive lessons. They also advocate for integrating road safety into design and policy from the outset, noting that consistent enforcement and improved driver discipline are as vital as engineering upgrades.
Ultimately, the piece frames Uzbekistan’s current moment as a rare window of flexibility and ambition—conditions that Canada no longer enjoys due to entrenched infrastructure legacies. By balancing large-scale expressways with regional connectivity, embedding safety in construction, and ensuring sustained maintenance funding, Uzbekistan can lay the foundations for a transport network that boosts economic integration, supports rural communities, and meets the demands of future trade and mobility.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
