Unfinished sections of Nation’s Highway to complete within year
The Kukes-Morine national road axis was deemed complete few years ago, but the section is still incomplete as construction of bridges, overpasses, access roads for the villages along the road, as well as the road safety elements and signs has yet to complete. The government launched the new construction site to complete the new road in the country’s northeast with these elements.
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited and toured this new construction site in Albania’s northeast. The head of the Albanian Road Authority said construction works were moving closer to completion. “The construction of viaducts along the Kukes-Morine road is nearing its completion. Currently we are working on construction of a quite unique, high and arch bridge, which, peculiar techniques and technology employed during the construction stages, we had projected it to complete next year, but we expect to finish it within this year. The construction of other bridges will finish this year too. Two sections of the road are currently under construction. We have also already kicked off construction of three overpasses designed solely for pedestrians, ultimately addressing the access of surrounding villages that were totally isolated during implementation of the previous project,” the Director of the Albanian Road Authority Afrim Qendra said.
The Infrastructure Minister Damian Gjiknuri noted that the previous centre-right government considered the road complete. “According to the official statistics, this is also included in the fund of the finished roads, but we are completing it. As part of the contract, the concessionary firm will carry out the road maintenance process and therefore a proper system will be in place, ultimately avoiding the previous problems that were cause for accidents along this road,” he said.
The government head noted that finalization of the project up to best standards is important. “Unfinished projects that never completed were promoted through a frenzy propaganda. Instead, we inherited huge accumulated government arrears and debts. But we settled all debts. However, several kilometres of roads remained unfinished. A large part of the construction works has completed, but completion of this project is crucially important as this section was the main cause for road accidents. What is most important is that, in parallel with the investments to complete the Nation’s Highway, we now have all the security system in place created by the road toll system. It is a good that there is no kind of feeling of dissatisfaction, on the contrary, there is full understanding and everyone is contributing, but on the other hand, the government and the maintenance company should respond to this contribution with utmost correctness, high standards, and perfect services along the entire highway’s length,” Prime Minister Rama stated.
Minister Gjiknuri added that the Kalimash tunnel was undergoing an overall reconstruction process, as the whole system, the fire suppression system, the cameras, or the ventilating system were in real danger.
