The highway linking Tirana to Elbasan, central Albania, will be completed and open to public and traffic soon. Prime Minister Edi Rama today inspected Tirana-Elbasan highway construction works. The highway construction manager said the technical works have advanced towards completion and one part of the highway will be accessible by March and the road will then become fully operational and open to traffic shortly after. “We are currently working to prevent landslide on this part of the highway. The escarpment protection walls are being built, along with the drainage systems and structural engineering works in order to stabilize this part of the road. Work is also underway on the surface layer and the project’s hydraulic part and the side channels. Construction works are underway at a steady and highly satisfactory pace and we expect the highway’s left lane to initially open to traffic by March 14 until whole project completes on schedule by May 2019. This has been one of the most problematic parts of the project with an estimated cost of $9.6 million. Around 93 percent of the works have completed. An additional funding of around $800 000 is needed to complete this part,” he said.

The government head stated that the cost of Tirana-Elbasan highway project doubled as a result of irresponsibility in designing the previous project.  “This road became really gangrenous. Works kicked off without a designing a project first, without a geological study any kind of safety parameters, and the tunnel was open during the electoral campaign without caring about what happens next and therefore it costs dearly. Practically, the highway’s cost has doubled just because of craziness and unimaginable greed,” he stated.

The construction manager acknowledged project faced many difficulties as the initial project featured many deficiencies. “Cost has increased because of the lack of a feasibility and geological study. For example, it took three later geological studies on this area alone. I mean, before the project is put to tender, great importance should be attached to the feasibility study. There are no more technical problems and completion of the project is just a matter of time,” he added.

Prime Minister Edi Rama called for utmost commitment to work in order to complete the highway construction on schedule by May.