The Arberi Road project, the highway that will link Tirana and the north-eastern region of Peshkopia in less than one-hour drive, easing the movement of people and goods between the two areas, proceeds according to schedules on almost every kilometre. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri, inspected the progress of works on the road’s section that provides connection with Tirana.

The connecting link, part of the ancient Via Egnatia and already crucial part of the Corridor VIII, is one of most important ongoing investments drive designed to modernize the country’s road infrastructure. Afrim Qendro, the head of the Albanian Road Authority, explains that work is already intensively underway on 29 of 35 kilometres of the road’s first part.

“Work is currently underway on 29 of 35 kilometres of this section. Two bridges from the area of Çereneci Bridge to Bllata, have been already built along this 14-km section, while work continues on construction of two other bridges. Of four tunnels, a 500-m long tunnel has been completed, while work is underway on opening the remaining three tunnels,” Qendro said.

On his part, Infrastructure and Energy Minister praised the project as a whole, pointing out that the work continues at a rapid pace. “Given the current pace of the construction works the project will complete as scheduled,” Gjiknuri said.

The work on construction of bridges and tunnels remains the most difficult part of the road project, which, once complete, will provide an impressive landscape to its users.  “It will be an incredible road in terms of its assets and the value it will generate for the areas along the road’s segment. This is a fantastic project that will give an impetus to agritourism and agriculture as this part of Albania is yet to be explored,” Prime Minister Rama noted in his remarks.