Highways in Albania
The Highways in Albania are the central state and main transport network in
The
The country is a member of the
The country signed the
History
Since
.The total length of Albania's roads more than doubled in the first three decades after
The largest road project in the history of Albania was the construction of the
At present, major cities are linked with either single or dual carriageways or well maintained roads. There is a dual carriageway connecting the port city of Durrës with Tirana, Vlorë, and partially Kukës. In fact, there are three formal motorway segments in Albania: Thumanë-Milot-Rrëshen-Kalimash (A1), Levan-Vlorë (A2), and partly Tirane-Elbasan (A3). Most rural segments continue to remain in bad conditions as their reconstruction has only began in the late 2000s by the Albanian Development Fund.[9]
Roads
Classification
All roads in the country are property of Albanian Road Authority (Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar (ARRSH)), a directorate subordinated to the
Motorways
The
Motorway | County | Length | Cities | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Durrës, Tirana, Lezhë, Kukës | 114 km (71 mi) | Durrës, Laç, Lezhë, Rrëshen, Kukës | The A1 ( Albanian Alps at Morinë in the northeast. It is currently part of the European route E851 and will form part of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway and Pan-European Corridor X.[14]
| |
Fier, Vlorë | 46.5 km (28.9 mi) | Fier, Vlorë | The A2 ( traffic lane motorway, spanning 46.5 km (28.9 mi). The motorway connects Fier in the north and Vlorë in the south. It will form part of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway .
| |
Tirana, Elbasan | 31.1 km (19.3 mi) | Tirana, Elbasan | The A3 ( traffic lane motorway, spanning 31.1 km (19.3 mi). The motorway connects Tirana in the northwest and Elbasan in the southeast. It will form part of the Pan-European Corridor VIII .
|
Expressways
The
Expressway | County | Length | Cities | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Durrës, Lezhë, Shkodër, Tirana | 125 km (78 mi) | Fushë-Krujë, Koplik, Laç, Lezhë, Shkodër, Tirana | The SH 1 (. | |
Durrës, Tirana | 33 km (21 mi) | Durrës, Tirana | The SH 2 (Albanian: Rruga Shtetërore SH 2) is an expressway, spanning 33 km (21 mi). The expressway connects the capital Tirana across the counties of Durrës and Tirana to the second largest city of Durrës. It is currently part of the European route E762. | |
Elbasan, Korçë, Tirana | 151 km (94 mi) | Elbasan, Korçë, Librazhd, Pogradec, Tirana | The SH 3 (. | |
Durrës, Fier, Gjirokastër, Tirana | 215 km (134 mi) | Rogozhina, Tepelenë
|
The SH 4 (Albanian: Rruga Shtetërore SH 4) is a expressway, spanning 215 km (134 mi). The expressway connects Durrës across the counties of Elbasan, Korçë, and Tirana to Greece. It is currently part of the European route E853 and will form part of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway. | |
Elbasan, Tirana | 40.5 km (25.2 mi) | Rogozhina
|
The SH 7 ( Rogozhina across the counties of Elbasan and Tirana to Elbasan. It is currently part of the Pan-European Corridor VIII .
| |
Fier, Vlorë | 148 km (92 mi) | The SH 8 (Albanian: Rruga Shtetërore SH 8) is a expressway, spanning 148 km (92 mi). The expressway connects Fier across the counties of Fier, Vlorë to Sarandë. | ||
Elbasan | 3.2 km (2.0 mi) | – | The SH 9 ( Republic of Macedonia. It is currently part of the European route E852 .
|
Construction work
Following the
The priority of the
Winter maintenance
Winter 2021-22 marked the first time that main roadways in the Albanian Alps have been open for traffic after a snowfall. Therefore, the many guesthouses of the area now are accessible in the winter as well. This came as a result of using advanced snow clearing equipment by local authorities and contractors. In recent years, winter maintenance has greatly improved in all major roadways of the country including the A1 toll motorway.
Controversies
Despite considerable investments, some dual carriageways are partially up to either motorway or state road standards as they are badly configured, contain unfinished
In March 2018, violent clashes took place at the A1 motorway toll plaza in Kalimash, Northern Albania as locals demanded lower fees on a project that was unfinished, and lacked the availability of a secondary road.
Below is a list of main roadways undergoing construction works in the last decade. The Rama 2 Government plans to standardize road projects and continue those left unfinished from previous years:
As of Summer 2023
Planned
- Muriqan–Milot–Balldren–Lezhe–Thumane: Autostradë, part of the Blue Corridor or Adriatic-Ionian motorway
- Adriatic-Ionian motorway
- SH34 Perlat–Kurbnesh–Fushe Lure near Lure National Park
- Velipojë - Ulcinj (MNE)
Underway
- Qukës–Qafë Plloçë: Superstradë
- Korçë–Ersekë
- Tirana Northern Outer Ring
- SH61, SH6 Tiranë–Brar Canyon–Bulqizë, part of Arbër Highway: Superstradë
- Shëngjin - Velipojë
- Llogara Tunnel
- Adriatic-Ionian motorway
Completed
- Tiranë–Elbasan: Autostradë
- Fier Bypass: Autostradë
- Milot–Rrëshen–Kalimash–Kukës–Morinë: Autostradë, part of European Core Road Network's Route 7[18]
- Tepelenë Bypass
- Lin–Pogradec: Superstradë
- Korçë–Qafë Plloçë: Superstradë (29 km)
- Albania-Kosovo Highway
- Tirana Southwestern and Southeastern Outer Ring: Autostradë
- Rrogozhinë Bypass
- Durrës Bypass (Shkozet)
- Levan (Fier)–Vlorë: Autostradë, part of European Corridor 8. (24.20 km)
- Shkodër–Han i Hotit MNE, part of the European Core Road Network's Route 2[19]
- Lezhë–Milot: Resurfacing, part of the European Core Road Network's Route 2
- Levan (Fier)–Tepelenë: Superstradë (70 km), part of the European Core Road Network's Route 2
- Durrës–Rrogozhinë: Autostradë (35 km), part of European Corridor 8.
- Tepelenë–Gjirokastër: Superstradë, part of the European Core Road Network's Route 2
- Lushnjë–Fier: Autostradë, part of European Corridor 8 (21.70 km)
- Himarë–Sarandë: Superstradë
- SH20 Han i Hotit–Tamarë–Vermosh–Dogana MNE
- SH21 Koplik–Dedaj–Bogë: Rrugë
- SH22 Fierzë–Bajram Curri
- SH22 Bajram Curri–Tropojë: Superstradë
- K22 Valbonë–Dragobi–Bajram Curri
- SH38 Fushë Krujë–Krujë: Superstradë
- SH42 Dedaj–Razëm: Rrugë
- SH71 just south of Elbasan – E86 at Libonik
- SH72 Lushnjë–Berat
- SH81 Sarandë–Butrint: Superstradë
- Sarandë–Qafë Botë GR: Superstradë
- Bajram Curri–Margegaj: Superstradë
- SH21 Bogë–Theth
- SH27 Shkodër–Velipojë
- Tirana Eastern Ring
- Shkodër Bypass
- Kardhiq - Delvinë
- SH76, SH77 Vlorë River Highway (Vlorë–Kuç–Qeparo)
- Vlorë Bypass
- Palasë - Dhermi
- Crossing of TEG
- Orikum - Dukat (Links with Llogara Tunnel)
- Most coastal roads
- Other rural segments
Driving in Albania
Despite the perceived negative connotation to driving in Albania, most vehicles manage not to get into accidents by simply exercising common sense and following their own way through the traffic. In cities, traffic is slow thus more secure than in rural areas. Albanian drivers are prone to using visual and acoustic aids regularly such as honking,
It is strongly recommended to have an up-to-date GPS, as many new roads have been recently added to the Albanian road network. If the GPS does not work, a paper or internet-based map would be useful. Street names on the ground do not always coincide with maps as the current address system has been recently introduced. In the mountains, some roads can be narrow and windy with hairpins, unpaved, and missing guardrails. A portion of these roads are being gradually paved and brought to European standards by the Albanian Development Fund, FSHZH. Other roads still have few road signs or misleading ones. It's strongly advised to always keep a spare tire.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "KODI RRUGOR I REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). pp.gov.al (in Albanian). Tirana. p. 76.
- ^ "FROM STABILIZATION TO CONSOLIDATION: ALBANIAN STATE CAPACITY AND ADAPTATION TO EUROPEAN UNION RULES" (PDF). eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie. p. 14.
- ^ "Status of the Pan-European Transport Corr·dors and Transpo t reas" (PDF). aei.pitt.edu. December 1998. p. 56.
- ^ "THE INTEGRATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA INTO THE PANEUROPEAN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR NETWORK" (PDF). core.ac.uk. p. 5.
- ^ United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. "Albania joins E-road agreement" (PDF). unece.org. p. 1.
- ^ "Star Rating Roads for Safety Results for Consultation with Stakeholders" (PDF). eurorap.org. pp. 31–39.
- ^ "Albanian Motorway Cuts Travel Time & Boosts Trade - Bechtel". Bechtel. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Business: Albania to focus on new roads (SETimes.com)". 2010-10-15. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
- ^ "Fondi Shqiptar i Zhvillimit". Fondi Shqiptar i Zhvillimit.
- ^ "SINJALET E INDIFIKIMIT TE RRUGES" (PDF). dpshtrr.gov.al (in Albanian). Tirana. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. "PYETËSOR TEORIK PËR DREJTUESIT E MJETEVE RRUGORE"(PDF). aca.al. p. 2.
- ^ "KODI RRUGOR I REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). pp.gov.al (in Albanian). Tirana. p. 1.
- ^ "MILOT – MORINE HIGHWAY PROJECT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION" (PDF). businesshungary.gov.hu. p. 8.
- ^ United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. "European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries" (PDF). unece.org. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "ALBANIA – NATIONAL TRANSPORT PLAN PHASE 2 STUDY PHASE" (PDF). siteresources.worldbank.org.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Working group transport" (PDF). ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ "Statement" (PDF). ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
External links
- Ministria e Infrastrukturës Official Website (Ministry of Infrastructure of Albania)
- Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar Official Website (Albanian Roads Authority)