The new Thumanë-Kashar road axis was opened for traffic today, a 21 kilometers long, European Union Category A highway, the first segment of the Blue Corridor, which precedes the three new construction sites Thumanë – Milot, Kashar – Lekaj and Lekaj – Fier, the construction of which will start in a few weeks, while the race for the Milot – Balldren segment will reopen in the upcoming weeks.
Prime Minister Edi Rama was at the inauguration of the new road, together with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku and Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, where they met with the staff of employees engaged in the construction of the road, as well as greeted the drivers of the first vehicles that passed through this axis.
A work completed in record time, in 15 months, said Deputy Prime Minister Balluku.
“We are at the moment of opening the first type A highway in the Republic of Albania. Thumanë-Kashar axis, 21 km, which is available starting today for all drivers. I would also like to say something else that has to do with the financial instrument that we have used for this road. We used a 35-year concession. The investment is 271 million euros, available from the private concessionaire. In the meantime, the kilometer fee has been set by the WBIF study and will be so on the entire segment of the Blue Corridor. We must say that it is one of the most convenient instruments as far as the Albanian state is concerned, given that we have not committed anything except the part of the expropriations that belongs to the State Expropriation Agency. Maintenance and everything else is the responsibility of the concessionaire. It took us only 15 months to complete this record breaking work. This is the staff that worked with us. The safety parameters are all met. Starting today, it will be handed over to the Traffic Police for supervision as we have 130 km/h speed signs here, signs that we don’t have on any other axis in the Republic of Albania.” – explained Deputy Prime Minister Balluku, who emphasized, among other things, that in addition to this road, secondary roads have also been built.
“It is important to say that together with this road, secondary roads have been built which are available, not only to connect communities with this highway, but on the other hand to give every driver a choice to pass through this road, i.e. the highway part of the Blue Corridor of category A, or through the secondary roads, which will be free of charge. This is one of the criteria that we have set for all concession contracts, even those that will be concluded or are being concluded at this moment, such as the part of Kashar-Lekaj or Lekaj-Fier or even Thumanë-Milot. In the meantime, as we have told you, we are ready in the following days to open the race that will connect Milot with Balldren, thus giving another dimension to the entire Corridor, and then the last lot remains, from Balldren to Muriqan. Of course, this is a road that not only serves the traffic produced by Albanian drivers, but all tourism, considering that it is a corridor that connects the north with the south, and of course, it is a connection to Corridor VIII, which is another corridor we are currently building.” – said Balluku.
While the Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro said that in addition to facilitating communication for the community, the road specifically serves tourism.
“Practically in the three entry gates of Albania coming from the north, just for the first 5 months, Murriqan-Han i Hoti and Morin, we have a 15-75% increase of tourists, compared to last year, especially those who come from Europe, from Croatia and beyond. In other words, it is a road that definitely serves the community, but if we take into account the increasing flow of vehicles, it serves especially tourism. As a result, the community, with the hotels, agritourisms and guesthouses in the entire northern area, will be supplied faster and better”– she said.
Prime Minister Rama said that such infrastructures precede the vision for Albania 2030.
“This road is a place where all those who want to touch with their imagination what Albania 2030 is, can see for themselves, because within this period the entire road, from the top of Muriqan to Vlora will be like this, this is the Blue Corridor and in the meantime Corridor VIII will be completely finished and also, – as I have noticed that there are many comments about the part of the Tirana-Durres road and the part of the old Ndroqi road, – very soon that project will also start and the Tirana-Durres highway will be expanded while the old Ndroqi road will remain as it is, but it will be a touristic, panoramic road, which will enable an alternative passage” – said the Prime Minister, while emphasizing that the works for the Murriz tunnel are on the right track, despite the many problems with the geology of the land.
“And another thing, in Murriz we do not want to set deadlines because we do not want to have any more geological surprises inside the tunnel, but if the power of the lords of Dibra helps us, we will have the Murriz tunnel before the end of the year and all the Dibrans can gather there at the big Dibran table for the New Year. Also, I have seen some news according to which the Arbri road will be tolled. The Arbri road will not have a toll, there will be no payment for the Arbri road.” – said Prime Minister Rama.