The Transcaucasian trunk road, short TransKAM) (from Russian: Trans-Kaukasian-A.utomagistrale) leads from Kardschin (Russia, North Ossetia-Alania) above Alagir and through the Roki tunnel to South Ossetia and on over Dschau and Tskhinvali to Gori in Schida Kartli. The border between South Ossetia and coreGeorgia has not been passable since 2008. The total length of the road is 164 km.
background
The Transcaucasian Highway is next to that Georgian Military Road the main road crossing of the Caucasus Mountains. It was laid out in 1985 to create a winter-safe alternative route to the Georgian Army Road. The Roki tunnel is at approx. 2000 m and thus significantly lower than the Kreuzpass at approx. 2300 m.
The TransKAM is the only road connection in the conflict area South Ossetia to Russia and so to the rest of the world. In the 2008 Caucasus conflict, the TransKAM, and in particular the Roki tunnel, was the only line of supply for Russian armed forces and paramilitary units to South Ossetia.
Regions
particularities
The border crossing at the Roki tunnel cannot be monitored from Georgia to this day. Thus, a trip through South Ossetia by the Georgian authorities is an illegal border crossing that can be severely punished. The onward journey to core Georgia is not possible anyway, as the border between South Ossetia and core Georgia is closed.
At the border crossing at the Roki tunnel, the South Ossetian authorities and "authorities" collect numerous creative fees and duties.
traffic
There is little traffic along the entire route
Route
North Ossetia-Alania
National street number (since 2011): 
- until 2017[outdated] Alternatively, the old street number P-297 (R-297) can be used.
The route runs through the lowlands north of the Caucasus on the left bank of the Ardon River. Length of the route to Alagir approx. 30 km.
- Kardschin village (Карджин) - connection to the
"Kawkas" (formerly: M-25) Nalchik-Grozny - City of Ardon (Ардон), Bypass in the west - junction (unnumbered street) after Vladikavkaz
- City of Alagir (Алагир), Bypass in the east - junction of the
to Vladikavkaz
Now the road leads through the gorge of the Ardon river: route length approx. 100 km
- Village of Nizhny Saramag (Нижний Зарамаг) - junction of the Ossetian Army Road to the Mamissoni Pass (crossing to Oni in Georgia blocked)
- North portal of the Roki tunnel (altitude 2000 m), border crossing Russian Federation
South Ossetia
In South Ossetia it is not clear which national street number the TransKAM carries. From a Georgian point of view, it is as 
designated. On OpenStreetMap it is designated with the old Russian designation P-297. The old Soviet name on the territory of the Georgian Soviet Republic was P-2 and as such it is still signposted on numerous old signposts. Length of the route: 33 km
- South portal of the Roki tunnel (altitude 2000 m), border crossing South Ossetia.
- The road now leads through the gorge of the Great Liachwi
- City of Dzau (Osset. Дзау; Russian Джава - Dschawa; Georg. ჯავა - Dschawa)
- Village of Gufta ((Osset. And Russian Гуфта; Georg. გუფთა), junction of the
(not signposted in South Ossetia) to Kuaissa and (border not passable) Oni - city Tskhinvali, City passage
- Border to core Georgia not passable!
Schida Kartli
In core Georgia, the road now runs parallel to the Great Liachwi on the left bank of the river through the plains. She is as signposted. Length of the route: 32 km
- Border to South Ossetia not passable!
- Ergneti village (ერგნეთი)
- Brotsleti village (ბროწლეთი)
- Tirdznisi village (ტირძნისი) - junction of the შ -72 to Ditsi and further to the eastern outskirts of Tskhinvali. Border to South Ossetia not passable!
- Bridge over the Little Liachwi
- Tkiavi village (ტყიავი)
- Kitsnisi Village (ქიწნისი)
- Karaleti village (კარალეთი)
- Connection to the motorway
to Tbilisi and Kutaisi - city Gori
- Vologdis Dasakhleba (Vologda Settlement)
- Tsminda Tskali (Holy Water) district
- Goriskikhe castle ruins
- The TransKAM ends in the city center of Gori at the bus station and the stadium. Connection to the
(City through Gori West-East)
security
- The border between core Georgia and South Ossetia is impassable.
- Entry into South Ossetia is only possible from Russia. The Georgian authorities consider this to be an illegal border crossing and can result in high fines and even imprisonment on future trips to Georgia if the stamps in the passport indicate that South Ossetia was once visited.
- There is one of numerous states Travel warning for South Ossetia. Conditions similar to civil war prevail in the region, there are repeated exchanges of fire and mines can lie off the beaten track. The South Ossetian police do not have comprehensive control over the region and therefore criminal gangs can rob or kidnap travelers mostly unmolested. For more details see the article South Ossetia referenced.
In those sections controlled by the Russian Federation and Georgia, the situation is calm.
