Speaking during an inspection of the project, Karakaçi said the first 5-km section, extending to Peza, had been completed and handed over to the Albanian Road Authority.

Work on the next 9 km is expected to begin shortly. The remaining 10 km to Durrës have also been funded, with the authority preparing to launch a tender by mid-November, he said.

The aim is to contract the entire route to Durrës, providing an alternative connection to the coastal city and easing traffic, particularly during the tourist season.

Karakaçi said the road would also improve access between agricultural areas and the cities of Tirana and Durrës, while potentially increasing property values along the route.

Road Authority Director Ami Kozeli said the road would be built to C1 standards, with a total width of 12.5 metres. It will feature two 3.75-metre-wide lanes, two paved shoulders measuring 1.5 metres each and two unpaved shoulders of 1 metre each.

The project also includes a new bridge at Beshiri over the Erzen River. The contract for the 179-metre bridge, which will have six spans and run parallel to the existing structure, was signed in July.

Kozeli said work on the bridge had begun after surveying was completed and the construction site cleared. The bridge contract has a 12-month completion period, while the two contracts covering the 9-km road section have a 24-month implementation period.

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Road Authority said overnight temperatures dropped to extreme lows in several areas, reaching minus 18 degrees Celsius in Valbona, minus 13 degrees in Kukes-Shishtavec and minus 8 degrees in the Theth area.

On the Klos-Burrel road, northeastern Albania, landslides were reported, but road maintenance teams intervened immediately with heavy machinery to clear debris and restore traffic, the Authority said.

ARRSH said contractors had been working around the clock with equipment and personnel to clear roads, remove snow and spread salt to prevent ice formation and ensure road safety.

The Road Authority urged drivers to comply with traffic rules and to use winter tyres and snow chains, which are mandatory in mountainous areas and on road segments where snow and icy conditions have been reported.

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Kozeli inspected the Qafë-Thore route, which connects the northern tourist destinations of Bogë and Theth, and said all necessary measures have been taken to maintain traffic. Temperatures on the route are expected to drop to -16°C overnight.

He said the main challenges in northern areas are ice, heavy snow and occasional landslides from mountain slopes, but contractors have implemented measures to clear roads and maintain vehicle access.

Kozeli urged drivers to follow road safety rules, use winter tires and carry chains, noting that improperly equipped vehicles can block traffic and endanger other drivers.

He added that ARRSH has been on full alert from November 15 to March 15 under winter safety protocols and has stocked 5,300 tonnes of salt.

Additional issues were reported in Kukës and Valbonë due to landslides, and in Gjirokastër, Tepelenë, and sections of the Tirana-Durres highway where runoff has flooded roads. In Selenicë’s Vajzë village, a hillside collapse occurred, while mudslides affected the Qukës–Qafë-Plloçë route.

“All 3,367 kilometres under ARRSH management remain open to traffic,” Kozeli said.

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The country is currently experiencing light to moderate rain, with temperatures on the rise.

Snowplough crews worked through the night to clear debris and rocks from the roads and to spread salt in areas at risk of ice.

The authority urged drivers to exercise extra caution and to equip vehicles with winter tires and chains, particularly when travelling to mountainous regions where snow remains.

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Albanian Road Authority said Sunday snow fell in the country’s north last night, adding that road maintenance crews, snow ploughs are on the ground to clean the road and sprinkle salt to ensure normal flow of traffic.

The Road Authority said that the road between two popular tourist attractions of Boge and Theth, unique mountain villages in Albanian Alps, north of the country, is open to traffic following the moderate snow fall overnight.

The affected areas include Puke, Fushe Arrez, Kukes, Qafe e Malit and other remote rural areas in northern Albania.

ARA urged road users to pay more attention and drive safely, use winter tires and chains when driving to remote mountainous areas in the country’s north, reduce speed, respect road signs and directives of the Traffic Police.

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ARA said in a press release that with snowfall sweeping across many northern and north-eastern Albania regions last evening, drivers are strongly recommended to use winter tires and chains when driving along the roads connecting Bajram Curri-Valbonë, Ura e Zapodit-Shishtavec, Peshkopi-Kuben-Vasije, Bulqizë-Peshkopi, Kukës-Bushtricë, Kukes-Krumë, Hani i Hotit-Tamarë, Tamarë-Vermosh, Bogë-Theth.

ARA  underlined that emergency crews and snow clearing vehicles have been working around the clock responding to weather-related emergencies to keep roads open to traffic amid freezing temperatures and severe bad weather conditions that have swept Albania in the past few days.

ARA also recommends that motorists in south-eastern Albania should use chains when driving along the following road segments Korçë-Ersekë, Bobshticë-Dardhë, Qafë Thanë.

ARA called on road users to pay more attention and drive safely, use winter tires and chains when driving to remote mountainous areas, reduce speed, respect road signs and directives of the Traffic Police.

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The 5.9-km long Llogara tunnel road in the south-western region of Vlora is a project of strategic importance, which is expected to have a major impact on development of the local economy and tourism in Albania’s south, significantly improving driving experience and quality, as well as shortening the drive time so that local and international visitors can reach their preferred destinations easily.

According to the Road Authority, in order to ease traffic and reduce travel time for holidaymakers heading to Albania’s southern coast during the summer tourist season, only cars, passenger vans and busses will be allowed for now.

The Authority said that heavier vehicles can use the existing old road.

The tunnel connects to the new Orikum-Dukat road, cutting travel time to the south and boosting this year’s tourism.

The project provides a new road link, replacing Albania’s notorious Llogara Pass, which features many switchbacks and can be particularly treacherous in winter time.

The Llogara tunnel road stretches from the Shën Eliza bridge in Dukat to the Palasa bridge, marking a major investment in the country’s road network. It will shorten the driving time between Orikum and Palasa to just seven minutes from 55 minutes currently.

The Llogara tunnel is part of an ambitious infrastructure development package and the government’s strategy on development of the tourism sector in Albania.

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Albanian Road Authority also said that use of winter tires and snow chains is recommended to motorists using these roads.

Road Authority underlined that the emergency crews are working around the clock responding to weather-related emergencies amid freezing temperatures and severe bad weather conditions that have swept Albania in the past few days.

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Albanian Road Authority said in a press release on Tuesday that work is underway on construction of the underpasses at the third and sixth kilometre of the road.

According to Road Authority, the pillars of the road bridge are currently being constructed, while gabion walls are being built to ensure river protection.

“This road segment will be totally transformed. The road will shorten distance and the drive time and it will be transformed into a four-lane intercity motorway as part of the Corridor 8, already included in the European network,” Road Authority said.

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