TIRANA, April 28 /ATA/ – An expanded section of the Tirana-Durres motorway up to the Rinas overpass has been fully opened to traffic on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi and the head of the Albanian Road Authority, Ami Kozeli, inspected the section, which has been upgraded to Category A motorway standard.
Karakaçi described the Tirana-Durres route as Albania’s busiest road, noting the upgraded stretch forms part of a wider 7-km project linking multiple phases, from the Casa Italia junction to the Rinas Airport exit.
He said further works are planned, including the removal of the Rinas overpass, which currently creates a bottleneck, and the construction of new access ramps to the airport.
The completed section now has four lanes and uses new asphalting technology introduced for the first time in the country, improving safety and driving conditions.
Kozeli said landscaping works will begin soon, while construction continues on other phases, including the Laknas interchange and the expansion of an underpass.
Karakaçi said procedures to extend the project are being accelerated, with further works now expected to begin in 2026, earlier than initially planned. The route is a key corridor linking the port of Durres with the rest of the country and easing traffic towards Tirana and the Rinas airport.
The government is also advancing other major infrastructure projects under the so-called Blue Corridor.
Karakaçi said the Kashar-Lekaj segment is in its final stage of technical review and documentation before construction begins, while the Milot-Balldren section is nearing completion of procurement procedures, with the winner expected to be announced in the next two or three weeks.
He said the Milot-Balldren project is particularly important for northern Albania regions such as Shkodra and Lezha, and is expected to ease seasonal traffic along the Adriatic coast during the summer months.
Authorities said the opening of the new motorway section and the continued rollout of related projects reflect ongoing investment in modernising Albania’s road infrastructure and improving transport quality nationwide.
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