Dozens of buildings razed for Tirana’s large traffic ring construction

TIRANA, Aug. 17 – Albania’s Construction and Urban Planning Inspectorate has launched a campaign to demolish buildings in the artificial lake area in Tirana to pave the way for the construction of Tirana’s outer ring road. Demolitions started on August 10 when 29 buildings some of them illegal were razed. The Inspectorate says 262 owners will be financially compensated for the construction of Tirana’s traffic ring which is expected to considerably ease traffic in the capital. Earlier this year, environmentalists and the opposition Socialist Party strongly opposed the government project which will cut 2.5 hectares from the botanical gardens located nearby. However, according to Transport Minister Sokol Olldashi, the project is the same to that foreseen in the 1989 regulatory plan, which is still in force– though some changes have become necessary because of the construction of new apartment blocks after the 90s. Last November, the Territory Adjustment Council of the Republic of Albania (TACRA), headed by Prime Minister Sali Berisha approved the construction of two important road segments as part of Tirana traffic ring and a center for the already under-construction Arbri road linking Albania to Macedonia. The first segment, that of “Babrru-Bregu i Lumit- Kthesa e Kamzes,” worth 115 million Euros, will be a 6.5 km long 8-lane road which will also have special public transport and emergency lanes and space for a possible tram route. Prime Minister Berisha said the major project gives a very good solution to traffic in Tirana and especially traffic that would be caused by the Arbri road. The second segment approved as part of the outer ring road was that of Komuna e Parisit street and the new Tirana- Elbasan road. This segment which is conceived to be built in several sections will be a six-lane road with three roundabouts, several flyovers and underpasses.