TIRANA, July 25 /ATA/ Dismissing public criticism over the cost of the Milot–Balldren highway, Minister Enea Karakaçi argued that evaluating infrastructure based merely on length is misleading. He noted that simple per-kilometer cost comparisons fail to account for complex terrain, varying geological challenges, and specialized engineering requirements.
The total value of the 35-year highway concession is €364.7 million—covering design, construction, operation, maintenance, electronic tolling, and resurfacing—with construction alone accounting for €182 million, as noted by the minister.
The project features an 850-meter, two-tube tunnel, a 620-meter bridge over the Mat River and a 223-meter bridge over the Drin River. It also includes five interchanges, 9.5 kilometers of secondary roads, and electronic monitoring and toll systems. Because the roadway crosses soft coastal ground near the Adriatic Sea, builders must perform extra work for drainage, ground stability and other engineering needs.
The minister appreciated that the Milot–Balldren highway is a vital strategic project that links Albania to Montenegro and the broader European TEN-T transport network and the government remains fully committed to its construction as soon as possible. /gj.m/ a.jor./p.s./
