$200 million needed for Arbri road completion

TIRANA, April 23 – The completion of Arbri road, a key segment linking Albania to Macedonia, remains hostage to USD 200 million, says the transport and infrastructure minister. Speaking at the parliamentary economy committee this week, deputy Transport Minister Ylli Manjani said government was considering borrowing and even a possible concession.
“Out of 45 kilometres, 25 km have already been tendered. The most difficult part is the tunnel in the midway at a high altitude. We have to find a technical solution which depends on further financing of around USD 200 million,” Manjani was quoted as saying.
In 2013, the China State Construction Engineering Corp. offered to complete the remaining section of the Arbri road linking Tirana to the northeastern region of Dibra and neighbouring Macedonia under a concession deal. China’s CSCEC made an offer to complete the remaining 27 km of the Arbri road including the Qaf Murriz tunnel and the Ura e Vashes bridge.
The construction of the Arbri Road is expected to cut distance between Tirana to Macedonia to only 75 km, from 185 km currently.
Some 31.6 km of the Arbri Road are still under construction and 25.7 km have been left without investment, including the costly Qafe Murrizi tunnel. The double bore tunnel is 2.5 km long with an elevation of 934 m.
“Dibra is one of the most underdeveloped regions in Albania. The Arb쳩 Road will connect Dibra with the rest of the country giving a much needed boost to the local economy. The road will also become a new vital route between Tirana and Macedonia thus improving considerably the infrastructure in this part of the Balkans,” says Professor Gezim Alpion of the Birmingham University who has initiated an online petition on the completion of the road.