Minister Gonxhja inspected the ongoing works as part of the first phase of a project designed to rehabilitate the Mati Bridge also known as Zogu Bridge. The first phase envisages reinforcement of this monument of culture and a second phase will ensue on complete rehabilitation of the structure.

The Zogu Bridge is a masterpiece of civil engineering from the early 20th century in the Balkans. Built in 1927 over the Mat River in Northern Albania, the bridge is renowned for its architectural structure, its length and the style of its steel arches. It is considered an important achievement in the field of metal construction and concrete structures built over rivers in Southern Europe.

Named after King Zog I of Albania, the bridge is also known as the “five arches bridge”. Designed by Swiss engineer Erwin Schnitter, the construction of the bridge was implemented by the Albanian engineer Gjovalin Gjadri, using materials imported from Italy. The 480-m long bridge originally consisted of six arches, 54-meter each, but one of the arches was destroyed during the World War II.

“Today, this monument of culture on Europa Nostra’s list of endangered heritage sites in Europe, is undergoing a rehabilitation project funded by the government of Albania,” Gonxhja said.

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