New stretch of Kosovo-Albania motorway opens

TIRANA, Nov. 12 – Bechtel and its longtime joint venture partner, Enka, have completed the first stretch of the 102-kilometer Kosovo Motorway, one year ahead of schedule and within budget.
Kosovar leaders, including Prime Minister Hashim Tha詬 President Atifete Jahjaga, and members of Parliament, along with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and U.S. Representatives Eliot Engel and Gary Peters joined thousands of Kosovars to celebrate at an opening ceremony.
“It is part of the history and success of the Kosovar people, all of these men and women of Kosovo who are putting all their skills and efforts together with Bechtel and Enka to make this dream come true. These first 38 kilometers represent the new reality of a new country, Kosovo,” said Tha詮
“The motorway under construction is the road to the future. Hence, I would like to congratulate all Kosovo leadership for the sacrifices made. At hard times they managed to commit all resources so that to build the quite important road for Kosova, Albania, but absolutely even the most feasible corridor for all the region,” said Berisha.
The newly-opened route runs 38 kilometers between Morin묠at the border with Albania, and an area north of Suhareka. Upon completion, the full motorway will extend to the north of Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, and will serve as the centerpiece of Kosovo’s national transport system, helping to promote trade and economic development in Kosovo and throughout the region.
“We are committed to helping Kosovo build its country and economy: 70 percent of the workforce on the project has been local Kosovars; some 80 local contractors and hundreds of local suppliers have worked on the project,” said Mike Adams, president of Bechtel’s civil infrastructure unit.
Construction started on the Kosovo motorway in April 2010. Bechtel and Enka’s optimum alignment solution avoided the requirement to build nearly five kilometers (3 miles) of tunnel, resulting in significant cost savings for the government.
Bechtel and Enka have successfully completed several major infrastructure projects in the region including motorways in Albania, Croatia, and Turkey.
The motorway is scheduled for completion in 2013.