According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, the project envisages the construction of a roughly 17-km motorway designed to the highest European Category A standards.

“The road will be a Category A motorway, the highest standard under European road classifications, featuring two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each direction,” the Ministry said on Monday.

The new route will be developed within a newly designated transport corridor, while the existing Milot-Lezhë-Balldren road will continue to operate as an alternative route serving local and regional traffic.

A central feature of the project will be a modern twin-bore tunnel, with each tube stretching 850 metres. The tunnel will bypass the city of Lezhë, improving traffic flow and enhancing road safety along the corridor.

The ministry said the tunnel would form part of a new section to be built between the Drin Bridge and Balldren, an area where no road infrastructure currently exists.

The project also includes the construction of bridges, interchanges and service roads, as well as the installation of intelligent traffic management and monitoring systems and tolling infrastructure.

The Milot-Balldren motorway is regarded as a strategic component of the Adriatic-Ionian Corridor, a major regional transport route aimed at strengthening connectivity between northern Albania, neighbouring markets and the broader European transport network.

The project carries an estimated investment value of 365 million euros and will be delivered under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Under the terms of a 35-year concession agreement, the private operator will be responsible for the motorway’s construction, operation and maintenance.

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