After the end of the Caucasian War, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus was in urgent need of road infrastructure development, as the region could not progress without constant communication. The situation changed with the start of construction of the Novorossiysk-Sukhumi highway in 1891, which was often called the Hungry Highway. The construction was led by Mikhail Nikolaevich Annenkov (1835-1899), after whom the road was sometimes named.

Mikhail Nikolaevich was born on April 30, 1835, and received his education at the Page Corps, graduating in 1853, after which he began service in the cavalry pioneers. In 1857, he entered the Academy of the General Staff, where he successfully completed his studies. In 1863, Annenkov went to Poland to participate in suppressing the uprising and worked in various commissions for the region's reform. He was promoted to colonel, and in 1867 published a series of articles in the 'Military Collection' about the use of railways in military affairs, which generated significant interest. In 1869, Annenkov became a major general and was appointed responsible for troop movements by rail in Russia.

The sections of the Novorossiysk-Sukhumi highway from Novorossiysk to Tuapse (192 versts) and from Sochi to New Athos (150 versts) were completed in 1896. The main task remained the construction of large iron bridges over rivers, where there were previously fords or temporary wooden bridges. These bridges were often destroyed by floods and strong currents of mountain rivers, thus failing to provide constant communication. Permanent bridges were built of iron on stone supports with embankments to direct the flow. To avoid intermediate supports, which were dangerous on mountain rivers, bridges up to 50 fathoms long were built as single spans. Iron bridges were erected over the rivers Aderbu Zhane, Doguab, Pshada, Vulan, Djubga, Kazachya, Nebug, Agoy, Pauka, Matsesta, Khosta, Kudepta, Kherotu, Mzymta, Gagrinsky dry ravine, Zhoekvara, Bzyb, and other rivers of Abkhazia.

The construction of the road was of the same significance for the southern region of Russia as the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway was for the Asian part of the empire.

In this nationwide construction project, a young M. Gorky worked as a regular laborer.