TIRANA, April 21 – A joint venture has been awarded a $152 million contract to build the 43.4 km Arab-funded Qukes-Qafe Plloç road segment, a continuation of the Tirane-Elbasan highway linking the capital to south-eastern region of Korça and Macedonia.
The joint venture composed of Sintram Albania and Combined Group is expected to start construction works next May and make the road available to traffic in three years, the Transport Ministry said in a statement.
Transport Minister Edmond Haxhinasto described the segment, which is part of the Corridor 8, an east-west European road and rail network linking Albania, Italy, Macedonia Bulgaria, as very important for the further development of south-eastern Albania, especially its tourism.
The project is also expected to give a boost to Albania’s trade exchanges by offering faster connection between Durres port and neighbouring landlocked countries. The road will also help agricultural development in the region of Korca and reduce pollution in the highly visited lake town of Pogradec because of avoiding circulation of high-tonnage vehicles.
The road is funded by the Islamic Development Bank with $125 million and the Saudi Fund for Development with $25 million.
