Work is underway to built two sections of the Bypass road project in the north-western city of Shkodra, an important segment as part of the government’s initiative to complete Albania’s western transport corridor connecting Tirana and Hani i Hotit. Prime Minister Edi Rama today inspected the Shkodra Bypass road, an infrastructure project designed to significantly reduce traffic congestion along internal roads in the north-western city and also complemented with all urban elements and it will serve citizens, with sidewalks, lighting, and greenery and bicycle lanes.
“Around 66% of the construction work along first section has already completed, whereas around 44% of the work volume has completed on the second section due to complexities,” Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku explained.
As to expropriations issue, Infrastructure Minister Balluku said that the documentation will be ready soon, paving the way for the project to continue.
“We currently face a problem that despite all the help we provide, many citizens lack the required documents and therefore the process has been delayed. All the procedures and documents have been completed and the Council of Minister will make a decision on this section at its next cabinet meeting, allowing the project to continue,” she said.
The Director General of the Albanian Road Authority (ARA), Ergys Verdho, said that Shkoder Municipality authorities have raised their claims about the project’s technical details. “Local authorities are seeking to lower the elevation of the road, saying it obstructs the view of the lake,” he said.
Commenting on this, PM Rama said: “In order for the Shkoder Mayor to be reliable – and I am not seeking to stir or engage in any debate, yet it is unavoidable to do so – as for her concern, she should really be worried about this ‘Zimbabwe-like’ gateway to the city. Once she clearly sees this ‘small Zimbawe’ she has left behind here and once she cleans it all, giving an evidence she is not blind at all, then she can express her concern about the landscape and horizon level distortion to loot ay the future and only then we can discuss and convince her this is all about just a road. The project is not about building a promenade. This is about building the city’s Bypass Road, which will also serve as a dam to defend Shkodra from floods. This is all and this debate is not new. This is a topic we have been discussing for ages now since the time when the party of Shkodra Mayor used to govern the country. We will keep working. The only thing we are worried about is the expropriation of the individuals who are entitled to benefit compensation. I would like to tell all the individuals facing such a problem, not only here but all over Albania, that this is another story we inherit from the past. This is because, the Shkodra Bypass road, too, is being constructed today, although as it has been included in the infinite or 10 million kilometres of roads that the previous government used to claim it had built, but this road too has yet to complete. They have actually held many tenders and have ruined the Albanian state. However, this is another topic. They have designed the projects in order to cause additional cost. The same was the case with the Tiranë-Elbasani highway, increasing the cost at the expense of the Albanian people. But what matters is that we build it. Moreover, I do not see any problem from the panoramic point of view, because here is a road, not a promenade. However, from the point of view of the landscape, it is the best,” the Prime Minister concluded.
