The Government establishes some road traffic rules for the area of cultural heritage, from the main boulevard of the city centre to all areas of cultural heritage
By decision no. 682 dated 15.10.2014, the Council of Ministers provides for amendments in the implementation of the Traffic Code of the Republic of Albania (approved by Decision of the CM No. 153, dated 09.07.2000, amended).
These changes are intended to clarify the application of the provisions of Article 7 of the Road Code, and establish circulation rules in areas of cultural heritage.
Although the road code sets as prerogative of local government to make decisions on road traffic regulation and parking in urban areas, section 7 of the Road Code, among other things, provides for the possibility to restrict circulation in residential areas and municipalities of all or some vehicle categories with the intent to protect the artistic property protection, environment and natural resources, in accordance with guidelines of the relevant ministry and the Ministry of Culture.
Pursuant to Article 7 of the Road Code and respecting the prerogatives of local government, ministers are sent instructions of the mayor or of the relevant municipality to issue the act relevant to enable this legal arrangement.
The aforementioned DCM creates the conditions for the ministries responsible for the road traffic, the ministry responsible for culture and local governments to issue instructions, joint orders for restriction, stop the circulation of vehicles of some or any category and prohibit or restricts the parking in these important areas of Cultural Heritage.
Given the importance of the cultural heritage area of Tirana city, in order to protect this important area and given the multiple demands of civil society to recover pedestrian areas of the city of Tirana, especially after the restoration of Mother Teresa square, according to paragraph 2 of the DCM 682/2014 and the joint order dated 10.18.2014 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Minister of Culture, dated 10/18/2014:
Circulation of vehicles of all categories is prohibited or restricted, and the parking of vehicles in the area of “Mother Teresa” square and the Boulevard “Martyrs of the Nation”, as part of the cultural heritage area of the City of Tirana, as follows:
a) Circulation of all categories of vehicles is prohibited at “Mother Teresa” square from 19:00 to 24:00;
b) Vehicles will circulate as follows:
– Vehicles from the road “Loro Boriçi” towards “Sheraton” Hotel will be diverted from the road “Lek Dukagjini” towards the Square “Italy”.
– Vehicles from the square “Fryderyk Chopin” will be diverted towards the road “Ibrahim Rugova”.
– Vehicles circulation from the road “Abdyl Frashëri” towards the Boulevard “Martyrs of the Nations”, at the crossroad with the Boulevard “Martyrs of the Nations” will be mandatory on the left towards the big bridge of Lana.
3. Vehicles of all categories are prohibited to park and stop at “Mother Teresa” square, with the exception of public transport vehicles (buses).
4. Vehicles of all categories are prohibited to park and stop in the area covering “Mother Teresa” square along the Boulevard “Martyrs of the Nation” up to the big bridge of Lama at the crossroad with the Boulevard “Bajram Curri”, with the exception of public transport vehicles (buses).
5. The Municipality of Tirana will provide the required road signs, pursuant to section 1 of this order and will make any necessary interventions to the traffic light system to adapt the existing signs as amended.
