The road Lin – Pogradec along the lake will be ready by the time the tourist season starts. Nothing is left of the old road – one of the most important southeast roads in the country – which was completely ruined. It has been transformed in a completely new road, which will improve connectivity with southeast and tourist area.

Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi, Prime Minister Rama returned today in this site where the first phase of the project for the rehabilitation of the lake line is about to be concluded. Works of art are almost completed, as well as most of the work for the pavement. Walls have already been coated with stone tiles, while work continues apace for the remaining part. According to Director of the Road Authority Dashamir Xhika, the project has brought many innovations, among which are railway underpasses and overpasses.

“This is the first project where we have envisaged railway underpasses and overpasses according to contemporary standards. They are on the way of completion. The underpasses will put an end to those horrible episodes of animals crossing the road”, Xhika said and added that one of the most beautiful projects in the country is being implemented.

The Prime Minister called it a project of urban, economic and social development. In addition, he said that the work done is an encouragement in the right direction to actualize well-conceived projects that bring a new standard.

“We had not only to cope with a mountain of debts to the companies, but we also had to face a situation where tenders were made without complete funding. Companies have been working with their money, but they couldn’t go very far because they were, such as we found them, blocked from a financial standpoint, and the state budget had not established the next steps. Terrible projects, which were inherited anywhere and without any standards were added to this misfortune; projects that had failures starting from a geological point of view, not to mention the catastrophic choices which have increased the number of accidents. I think we have established here a completely new standard, we have confirmed an absolutely new growth model, and I believe that the review of the project for the lighting system – which was outrageous – will complete this part”, the Prime Minister said.

The rehabilitation of the area at the entrance of Pogradec will be complemented by the project for the construction of 17.3 kilometer promenade along the lakeshore, with greenery on both sides and a bike lane for the movement. Deputy Prime Minister Peleshi announced that the implementation of the project will begin in June.

“The detailed project on the lakeshore has been completed. It envisages the promenade, bicycles lane, bicycle parking, stations for those who come by car and want to ride the bike. This is a fantastic project for which work will start by the end of June, and I believe that by the end of the season the rehabilitation of the lakeshore will be completed”, Deputy Prime Minister Peleshi said.

The Prime Minister assured that the Lakeshore will be substantially transformed and projects for the city will continue with the construction of the new loop, while clear plans to prevent developments that affect the landscape and beauty of this area will be implemented.

“We will start immediately with the other project to transform the whole area of the lake into a space for citizens, for visitors and tourists, for the young people, so that everybody can enjoy the city, not only those who pass by by car, but especially those who come here during the season. I am convinced that if until 18 months ago we would cry over the horrible contrast between this side of the lake and the other side, after the actualization of this project there will be something we can enjoy, and we will be in the conditions to not be jealous of the neighbors on the other side of the lake who have preserved nature and have not destroyed the territory. With the new mayor of the city, who is an architect, a urban planner, a woman with a vision and the knowledge on the territory and its development, we will be able to go further with the new loop of Pogradec, with new developments for these territories, where we have chosen only the lake side, but we have also clear plans for preventing irregular buildings, for preventing anything that affects the landscape and the natural beauty of this area, and make them coexist so that beauty will not only be an inherited asset, but also an asset that produces welfare and capitals.”

The Prime Minister noted that the challenge consist in giving to these projects the proper shape to overcome the horrible legacy in this context.