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| Edi Rama and Belinda Balluku inspecting the Elbasan-Qafë Thanë road project, source: Facebook |
The Elbasan-Qafë Thanë road project, part of Corridor VIII, for which active construction has commenced on the ground with two lots, has undergone changes from its initial plan.
The details were provided by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, during an on-site inspection while accompanying Prime Minister Edi Rama.
According to Balluku, construction on the North Macedonian side of the road, which is part of the important corridor, has been underway for some time, and Albania has adjusted by finding a closer exit point within Albanian territory,
However, this solution seems to have led to a new addition, a 3-kilometer-long tunnel. According to Balluku, this decision was reached through negotiations between the road authorities of the two countries as well as the responsible Ministries of Infrastructure.
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| Sketch from the project Elbasan-Qafë Thanë |
"This is an important part of Corridor VIII, which starts from the village of Labinot Fushë and continues for 44 kilometers on a road with all the parameters of a modern highway in terms of safety and road category, continuing to the vicinity of Qafë Thanë.
As you are aware, after intensive discussions with the government of North Macedonia, we decided to change the exit point, as construction of Corridor VIII has also long been underway on the North Macedonian side. Therefore, by working with both road authorities and ministries, we achieved the result that it would be better to have a closer exit point within Albanian territory, which will be realized through a 3-kilometer-long tunnel.
This concerns the area near the Bushtrica bridge, and meanwhile, the Qafë Thanë point will remain active and serve citizens who want to use it," said Balluku.
According to the Minister, the start of work on the other lots, specifically 3 and 4, is expected within this year, while in 2024 lots 5 and 6 will open. The year 2025 will mark the opening of lots 7 and 8, depending on the progress of financing.
The Head of the Albanian Road Authority, Evis Berberi, emphasized that the first lot where work is advancing is 5 kilometers long and entirely new. The road will be 22 meters wide and have four lanes.
The second segment, 4.5 kilometers near Librazhd, has also started as the government has decided, based on developments, to design a new Bypass of Elbasan. The new project will be delivered in November. The 20-kilometer-long Bypass will completely avoid the city.
Minister Balluku clarified that the Elbasan Bypass was initially financed through foreign funds, but now, to expedite the process, funding will be sought from a foreign institution with faster procedures.