A two-lane section of the highway linking Tirana to Elbasan, central Albania, opened to traffic today. With the completion of the section stretching from the Tirana East Gate to Ibe tunnel, this strategic four-lane highway will finally open to traffic and become fully operational on May 17. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, and the head of the Albanian Road Authority Sonila Qato, inspected the opening of the newly-constructed road section to traffic.

“This section was opened last night for an initial trial and it has been completely opened to traffic this morning. This is the first time in eight years when motorists drive freely without facing traffic congestion to attend celebrations on Summer Day in Elbasan,” Infrastructure and Energy Minister Balluku said.

“The first two lanes have been already opened and the whole project is set to finally complete on May 17,” the Director General of the Albanian Road Authority Sonila Qato said.

Construction of the highway project took seven years due to the lack of a project and geological study in order to meet the European road infrastructure and safety standards. It is important that this nightmare is ending. The previous project was miserable just like it was the case of the roads we inherited. But it is important that the project is now completing,” PM Rama said.