REPAIRS OF ROKSKY TUNNEL COMPLETED IN NORTH OSSETIA

VLADIKAVKAZ, March 12 (RIA Novosti) - The work to repair the Roksky tunnel on the Transcaucasian highway, one of the two principal routes across the Central Caucasian Ridge, linking Russia with Transcaucasia, has finished, Emergency Situations Minister of North Ossetia (a republic in the North Caucasus) Major-General Boris Dzgoyev told RIA Novosti.

The 3,660-meter tunnel under Roksky Pass is the largest tunnel in the European part of Russia. During the year long repair project, a new road in the tunnel was laid, the lighting and ventilation systems were completely redone and cameras were installed in the tunnel so that supervisors can control practically the entire tunnel.

According to the minister, electricity supply to South Ossetia (a republic on Georgia's territory) was also restored on Friday. The situation in four areas in the Alaguir district of North Ossetia that were cut off by avalanches and mudslides, remains complex. Road services have constructed half of a temporary road around the washed out main route, and Gen. Dzgoyev said the temporary road will be completed in 3-4 days. Food is being delivered to the inhabitants of the cut off villages by mountain paths.