Around 68% of the construction work has been completed at the road linking the coastal town of Orikum  and the village of Dukat, one of the most important infrastructure investment projects in the coastal region of Vlora and entire southern Albania. 

The new road and the Vlora bypass project will shorten the distance to the coast, providing a breath of fresh air to local tourism and economy.

Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday toured the construction site at Orikum-Dukat road, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, to inspect firsthand the progress of construction work.

“We are inspecting the 15-km new road being built from Saint Eliza Bridge to the yachts port. The construction works kicked off in 2021 and the new road is scheduled to complete and be handed over in March 2024. However, around 68% of the construction works have been completed so far and we are inspecting the third section of the road, with its track being built from scratch. It is actually a very complex section of the entire road. The road follows the course of the river and it stretches further to meet with the Llogara tunnel. The section we are walking along now features five bridges and a panoramic tunnel. This is one of the bridges, which is being built now, and currently reinforced concrete is being poured into the bridge piles. River protection and embankment works are envisaged to be conducted along the road’s third section. As I already said, we have decided that the new road runs along the river’s valley,” said the Deputy Prime Minister Balluku, who went on commenting on the energy situation in the country taking notice of the heavy rainfall that started during the inspection process.

“Significant water inflows have been recorded most recently. Rain stopped last night indeed, but rainfall started again and is forecast to last until midnight, bringing more water inflows into the Fierza dam, where water is being kept in order to increase the dam’s level. The water level currently is 268 meters. The two smaller hydropower plants of Koman and Vau i Dejes are partly operational and we are being really prudent in a bid to increase the water level and best manage the water inflows that are expected tomorrow. However, we should show utmost care so that we are not forced to resort to water discharges from the three main dams. We need to exchange electricity with Kosovo or we will offer up for sale to the market,” the Deputy Prime Minister explained.

During the inspection, the Director of the Albanian Road Authority, Evis Berberi informed that construction work is in full swing, despite the huge work volume.

“This is the big 120-meter bridge. Three more bridges are to be built here. It is our ambition and we expect to open the road to traffic during the next summer season, by the end of June, and work will then go on with the road signage and other safety elements. As we have already demonstrated, although the construction work is expected to complete after two years, we will do our utmost effort to complete it earlier, since progress of the construction work is satisfactory,” he said.