LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR TBILISI ... - LED

Such immanent feature of Tbilisi spatial development as linear was naturally
reflected in the configuration of its center. Logical Urban researches held yet
in the Soviet period, proved that entire city center of Tbilisi is developing linear
along the river Mtkvari gorge. Localization of city forming objects and mental
maps of Tbilisi residents make this fact evident. Thus, Tbilisi was exposing the
trend of natural development of the long center, in the widths direction of city
center in the general plan, resisting the voluntary approach of turning to the
Tbilisi sea.
Central structures expose general trends of development upper of the river
Mtkvari; Although lately, the desire of allocating city forming objects within “Old
Tbilisi” and in the direction of the flow of Mtkvari has been emphasizing. Thus,
Tbilisi common city center territorially expands from the Freedom square in
two directions.
First and basic, on the right embankment of the river Mtkvari implies Rustaveli
Avenue, acquires several branches at the Philharmonic buildings in the
direction of Merab Kostava and Melikishvili streets, moving into the Ilia
Chavchavadze Avenue, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia street and Vazha-
Phshavela Avenue. Simultaneously center forming functions of David the
builder and Akaki Tsereteli Avenues are being developed.
The second direction of the city develops from the Freedom Square including
the old city and, then in the directions of Avlabari-Isani and Ortachala with
linear branches.
Thus, the features of the Tbilisi common city center are:
• Linear and dynamic character;
• Expansion of the linear structures on behalf of the streets;
• Poor widthy functional-planning links between the parallel central
axises;
• Increasingly emphasized importance of the old city;
• Dispersive development of the city forming objects.
Such features of the Tbilisi center makes difficult identification of the center
core.
More simple is pointing out the transit and commercial corridors. Tbilisi located
in the TRACECA corridor is forced to let pass international cargo flows via its
embankment, because of the damaged condition of the Tbilisi sea beyond
road. These embankments, essentially, are the only draught highways on the
whole territory of Tbilisi. For now the issue on cutting Kakheti highway till
Avchala is being worked out, what will immensely unload the city center.
Coming out of the specific location of the Tbilisi relief (differences between
the heights of the river Mtkvari shores) widthy links are more complicated. The
railway line within the city creates the same problem; overcoming of the
railway line for the aboveground transport is possible only in two places, with
making distance of 5 kilometers between them. Implementation of viaduct in
the direction of Didube-Nadzaladevi accounted in general plan is far from
realizing.