A new bridge over Buna River, designed to connect the Albanian coastal town of Velipoje and Ulqin in Montenegro, will become the most beautiful symbol of cooperation between Montenegro and Albania in the context of the Open Balkans initiative.

Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abrazovic, two friends and counterparts participating in today’s Open Balkan summit in Ohrid, North Macedonia, held a meeting to unveil the new bridge project, which will materialize the vision of bringing the countries closer under the spirit of cooperation, integration and regional development.

The Director of the Albanian Development Fund, Dritan Agolli, presented the design of the three-arch and 303-meter long bridge which will significantly cut the distance between the two areas, creating splendid opportunities to explore shared tourist offers.

“This is the design of the bridge connecting Velipoje and the area of Ulqin, which is also part of the Open Balkans initiative and explores the opportunity to create synergies between the economic potential of both countries. This is the  idea of Albania and the Open Balkans to tear down the walls and build connecting bridges. The new bridge will connect Montenegro and the Albanian north-western city of Shkodra through Buna River and along the Adriatic coast,” Agolli said.

“The area of Ulqin and Velipoje are geographically very close, located at a distance of only one km from each other, but still too far away from one another in terms of their connectivity. It is a 73- km distance between them, but once construction of the new bridge completes this distance between the two wares will be reduced by 73 times and provide excellent opportunity for exploration of the common tourist offers. The three-arch bridge will be 303 meters long. It is designed to be a C1 category bridge with two lanes, which means it will be open to vehicles, trucks, pedestrians, cyclists, as well as sidewalks,” the head of the Albanian Development Fund explained.

On his part, Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abrazovic noted that the project will have a positive impact on both sides of the border and the two neighbouring countries will significantly improve their connectivity.

“I would like to briefly comment on this project. I am very happy about it. It is a project we discussed last summer in Tirana and we are very close to launching concrete construction work. I would like to point out that the Montenegrin government has allocated a part of the fund for construction of this bridge under the 2022 state budget. This funding will perhaps not be used this year, but once detailed design is complete by the end of August, we can immediately sign the Memorandum of Understanding in September, because it is about a very important project and this is essential. This project is important, not only because of the 73 kilometres that will be reduced to 1-km road only between the two countries, but also because this area, from the beginning of the coast in Ulqin to the end of Velipoja, can become a tourist attraction in the future. Everyone hopes that we will propel that area into development so that new resorts, complexes and better tourist services will be provided. This will greatly facilitate the access of tourists as it is the case with visitors to other regions of Europe, namely Luxembourg or other border areas. This is also the way we can tackle the congested traffic near Shkodra and the border crossing point, given that a number of lorries will drive along this bridge and it is really irrational why this bridge has not been built earlier, because it is not difficult at all to cross Buna river. I am confident that the new bridge will have many positive effects on both sides of the border and connectivity between the two countries will significantly improve.

The bridge symbolically testifies that we are not only Open Balkans, but we have also ushered in a new stage of the way we understand the bilateral and regional relations, because this is not just a bridge between the Albanian and Montenegrin citizens, but it will also be used by many people visiting both countries and I think that the idea is perfect and I fully support the project,” he said.

Prime Minister Rama noted that “this beautiful project with a perspective for both countries will be accompanied by other important infrastructural works such as the tourist route Shengjin-Velipoja that will practically shorten the distance between Ulqin  and Shengjin too.

“So this is the design and, as already announced, the detailed project is slated to complete in August and once the detailed project is completed we will sit together immediately. I mean, the Albanian Development Fund with your agency, whichever it is called, the Ministry of Infrastructure or Transport and we will go on with the construction work.

The design is clear enough as the design team has obviously worked on this alternative only. We should now forward the detailed project and allocate the due funding and fully agree on it. They can disburse the money for the coming year without any constraints due to budget rules. We are ready to embark on this amazing project.

In the meantime, I would like to add something for those who are not aware of the fact that we are now working on construction of the tourist road linking the two coastal villages of Velipoje and Shengjin, which will practically shorten the distance between Ulqinand Shengjin too. The new project will propel development of the area, improving at the same time connectivity between the two countries. I am really grateful as this is your vision. This is something you pushed for, so let’s not argue whose idea was better, but instead best implement these ideas. I am very happy to join you in pushing for implementation of this project. This is the spirit of the Open Balkans. It is not a big deal what some individuals claim, but this is the spirit of the Open Balkans initiative. I am looking forward to paying a visit to Montenegro, hopefully within July and then in August to hand over the project.

The bridge will allow the passage of all tourist ships that will sail on the river, but at least let us reach that stage of 70 years ago, when my grandmother, who lived at that time in Shkodra used these ships and was so nostalgic for that time.

 If you look at Marubi’s photos you see these beautiful places, with small boats sailing. At least let’s get there, then for the bigger ships, they too will arrive when the time is due.

Of course we are here to build a bridge and we will build the bridge.