The Ring Road of Pogradec, to be connected to the national axis in Qafë Plloçë, will soon turn into a modern infrastructure. The works for its reconstruction have already started following a government investment of approximately 9 million dollars. The road, which extends for about 8 kilometres, starts at the entrance of Pogradec coming from Tirana, and it continues on the existing track of the Great Ring Road of the city. In the vicinity of the village Zervaske, it joins the new road Qukës-Plloçë, which is under construction, following a brand new track that eliminates the bends of Qafa e Plloçës. The project envisages the widening of the road up to 10 meters, the construction of works of art, the construction of sidewalks in residential areas, and all the elements of a road of European standards.

Accompanied by Deputy PM Niko Peleshi, Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected the progress of the works for the implementation of this project, the beneficiaries will be first of all the residents of Pogradec.

The Director of the Albanian Development Fund, Benet Beci, said that the modernization of this infrastructure was a necessity not only for the community, but also for businesses as it runs along the industrial zone. “It is 8 kilometres long. Approximately 9 million dollars have been invested in two main segments. The first one is the ring road of Pogradec which will bypass the traffic. It is 9 metres wide, and will have 2 and 3 lanes, roads and a lighting system in the residential areas. The second segment will minimise transport congestion from the exit of Pogradec to Qafë Plloçë, and it will connect to the new road Qafë Plloçë – Qukës, which is under construction. There are a lot of businesses along this road, which is extremely damaged. The whole population of this area has great expectations. It is an industrial area, and it is a residential area at the same time. The road will be ready within a year and a half”, Beci said.

The Prime Minister ensured that its construction will meet the modern standards of infrastructure, in addition to increasingly facilitating communication among cities. “As you said, this road has been in very bad conditions for 30 years, and it is as if you were 100 years apart from Pogradec. So, it is important that it started. It has been a priority for us since the beginning. The problem is that things take some time, but it has started now. It will be ready in 18 months, and it will have all the standards.”

The city ring road in Qafë – Plloçë will give some breathe to traffic, which is particularly heavy during the summer and winter vacations, as many visitors, both domestic and foreign, travel to Pogradec, Korca, Dardha and Voskopoja. The project will also extend to the urban area, which is a completely chaotic and degraded area.

The residents of this area thanked the Prime Minister for what the government has done so far.

“Not even God could do what you did yesterday”, one of them told the Prime Minister.

“Are you happy?”, he asked.

“Very happy, indeed”.

“You should be because you are in the SP’s heart. You are one of them who have triggered the work and the heart of the SP”.