The Albanian Government’s priority investments to upgrade the country’s road infrastructure aims at rehabilitating the national road network to support the economic growth, connectivity and transform main national road axis into modern roads that meet existing EU standards. One of these national roads is the Vora-Fushe Kruje segment, which, although ranking second after the Tirana-Durres highway for the average number of cars and daily traffic flow, had deteriorated into a highly dangerous segment, failing to meet any road safety standards. An investment worth of 4.9 million euros is upgrading the segment to turn it into a road meeting the needed mobility parameters, traffic flow and road safety standards.
“This road segment is undergoing a complete upgrading and reconstruction process because it is one of the worst maintained roads, although it remains a national road axis for the time being until construction of the new Kashar-Thumane road completes and extends then to Balldren in order to become a road meeting highest standards,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said in his remarks while inspecting the ongoing works for reconstruction of this important road segment.
“The 11.2-km long road linking Vora and Fushe Kruje town is a relatively complete road segment with asphalt layers and vertical and horizontal signs, as well as safety standards,” the head of the Albanian Road Authority Afrim Qendro said. “The construction is set to complete in six months and a half, but but work is running ahead of schedule and I think it will complete within three months. Construction has completed along half of the road’s stretch and work is progressing fast well ahead of schedule. As many as 210 employees and 160 machineries are currently working,” manager of the construction company said.
The Director of the Road Authority noted that work is also underway to construct and upgrade all roads, especially in the areas where landslides and natural disasters are mostly likely to occur. “We are already working in all segments and work is progressing fast towards completion. The works on construction of Shkoder-Muriqan road and other segments in Fushe Mjeda and Tamara are about to complete. Likewise, the Gjirokaster-Lazarat road is also towards completion. The whole rehabilitation and upgrading package is about to complete. Meanwhile, many emergency interventions have been carried out to rehabilitate roads in Xhure, Peqin Bridge and improve road signs and safety elements,” Qendro said.
Two other major roads, namely Arberi Road and Burrel-Klos road, will add to the completely transformed road infrastructure of the country.
“Klosi was a completely forgotten area. Arberi Road project is also progressing well,” PM Rama said.
“Work of construction of Arberi Road project has proceeded at a satisfactory rate. Around 20% of construction works have already completed. Works for construction of Milot-Balldren and Thumane-Kashar highways will kick off soon and the entire road system takes a complete shape, including all elements of the road safety to eliminate the chaos and traffic congestion in Lezha. Traffic on road segment between Muriqan and Hani i Hotit border crossing points runs on normal conditions. The construction of the road between Burrel and Klos and the Arberi Road the travel distance between Klos and Tirana will shorten to only 35 minutes. The new road infrastructure will support economic growth of the area,” the head of the Albanian Road Authority said.
The government head also put emphasis on the need to build drainage system along Tirana-Durres highway to prevent flooding. The Director of the Road Authority said that a hydric study and project were already carried out. “We have identified gaps in the contract in order to conduct an emergency intervention and prevent the past year’s flooding situation from happening. Meanwhile, good and effective cooperation has been established with business operators to dredge canals in the vicinity of their business premises,” Qendro said, adding that together with Power Corporation and other state institutions work is underway to ultimately tackle the problem.
