A new 11-km long road linking the Cold Water area with Rradhime and Orikum in the southern municipality of Vlora is expected to significantly ease traffic along this important section leading to the Coastline area. The project will also deliver on the government’s ambitious plans to develop a decent tourism infrastructure in Vlora and other major tourism destinations all over the country. A bike dedicated lane will be added to the existing road, which will also be complemented with new elements of the urban furniture, including public spaces, green and recreational spaces. Meanwhile, a new road section will provide for the car traffic on the existing road, which will be transformed into a pedestrian walkway in the Radhime area, where high priority will be placed on accommodation and tourism and hospitality infrastructure.
Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Mayor of Vlora Dritan Leli attended the groundbreaking ceremony that marks the launch of the new project, which is expected to have an important impact on local and national tourism sector. “It is an investment that starts at the Vlora tunnel and ends in Orikum. The project entails rehabilitation of the entire roadbed, two bypass roads in Radhime and Orikum. I would have wished for the project to further continue with the next component that includes the sidewalks and the bike-dedicated lane, since the investment funding has been secured, but the public is growing increasingly concerned since the disbursement of funds have been blocked by the President and therefore we can’t go on with the next phase of the project for now. I would want that the head of state reacts and allows us to take the investment projects forward,” Vlora Mayor said.
ON his part, PM Rama described the project as a spectacular one, while acknowledging that the project needs for the President’s formal authorization.
“We didn’t want to engage in a politicized public debate on this project, yet it is a fact that we expect the President’s formal authorization since early November after having concluded entire negotiation process with the Saudi Fund and the project is totally blocked indeed, and as long as no formal authorization is issued, we can’t materialize the funding. It is about a considerable fund to support the project development in two directions. First, it will support rehabilitation of this entire road stretch down to Radhime and then to Orikum, plus the other road section, because we have already pledged to urbanize whole area of Rradhime by introducing elements of the Waterfront Promenade to create pedestrian walkways, recreational spaces for visitors, and new hotels. The road will be deviated in order to avoid chaos during the tourism season.”
