Work to pave the first section of the 29km bypass of the southern Adriatic port city of Vlora, one of the major and most important road infrastructure projects in the country’s south, while intense work is underway to complete the final two kilometres of the road’s subbase and road art along its stretch. The bypass road links the Levan-Vlora highway with the national coastal road linking Vlora and Saranda. The EUR 37 million-project is co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union.
The 29-km bypass road project is expected to have a significant impact on development of tourism and it will help to significantly improve the road traffic flow in the coastal city of Vlora and along the southern coast of Albania. The bypass road begins at the roundabout at the end of Levan-Vlora highway.
Prime Minister Edi Rama today inspected the works at the 27th km of the new road, where work to build the road’s sub-grade and the road art.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku said that the pace of construction work is progressing at a satisfactory rate and the inherited problems in building the road have been successfully resolved. “Pavement of the bypass has already stared at the roundabout area. The project traverses a residential area and we had to tackle the expropriation issue first. We are the 27th km of the road, so the work to construct the project is heading towards completion. The 29th km is last km of the road, where it connects with the road leading to the port of yachts and then to Dukat. This is the last overpass, linking two villages and work is progressing at a rapid pace and the agreement with EBRD and EIB has been a very fruitful one,” Balluku said.
Infrastructure and Energy Minister also provided some project details, saying every element has been reviewed to meet seismic-proof standards in its construction.
“We have projected building rest areas or rest stops for vehicles at every 1.5 km along the road. Along its 29-km stretch, the road features five bridges, which we have evaluated and reviewed to meet the seismic-proof standards following the November earthquake in the country and this is a very important element of this road project. The project also includes 15 roundabouts and T-shaped intersections, which have been all resolved, including the problem regarding the cemetery area about which a solution was found also through dialogue with local community,” she added.
On his part, the project engineer noted that every detail of the road escarpments have been redesigned, giving a different view to the surrounding panorama and landscape.
With a series of important infrastructure projects complete – the Premier said – the whole area would become a super tourist destination, featuring an infrastructure that meets highest European standards.
“This is what should be kept in mind regarding the road art now so that the solid materials are now all integrated. Meanwhile, the bypass road will certainly significantly ease the road traffic along Longomare Waterfront Project, or the Lungomare 3, as I prefer to refer it to, a project stretching to Dakat and due to be implemented by the Albanian Development Fund, and the other important Orikum-Dukat road project and Llogara tunnel which will all finally complete the area’s infrastructure and which will turn it into a super tourist destination, not only because of the nature beauties and cultural heritage, but also in terms of the access to the infrastructure,” PM Rama said.
As to the International Vlora Airport, Minister Balluku announced that competition and tender procedures will be renewed after the process was halted due to the pandemic, and the bids evaluation procedures for 60 international bidders will complete within 12 days.
“As far as the Vlora airport is concerned, I would confirm that the project has been neither cancelled, nor postponed. It has been temporarily suspended due to the pandemic and we are waiting for an opportune moment when the international flights will resume, providing an opportunity many companies, given that one of the main criteria is the experience of the contractors. We are waiting for a more opportune moment to set a date for the international competition once the international flights resume. I am confident the process will reopen by end of June as many companies have shown great interest, but the process has been suspended due to the current situation. The process will resume right where it was suspended,” Balluku explained.
