World Bank talks on secondary, local roads in Albania

TIRANA, April 14 – The World Bank and the Government of Albania have reached agreement, following negotiations least week, for a new loan to be used for the Improvement of the Secondary (regional) and Local (communal) Roads Projects in Albania, the bank reported.
The project is being built to improve access to essential services and economic markets, especially in rural areas.
World Bank involvement follows a request by the government of Albania to improve the management, financing, and condition of secondary and local roads in the country. Through this project, the World Bank will also assist in the introduction of using private sector road maintenance on the secondary and local road network and will also act as a catalyst for other donors.
The project will focus on the construction and maintenance needed for the improvement of priority sections of the secondary (regional) road network and local (commune) road network.
The total cost of the World Bank Project is estimated at US $40 million, with US $20 million coming from an IDA Credit, US $15 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and US $5 million being provided by the Albanian government. The project is expected to receive approval by the Board of Directors in June.
Implementation will be undertaken by the Albanian Development Fund, supported by the steering committee established under the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications.
The total program is expected to encompass between 1,000 – 1,500 km of secondary and local roads, with a total cost between US$ 200-400 million. The Government of Albania is negotiating with various donors and international financial institutions, including the Council of Europe Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and the Japanese Bank for International Co-operation.