Prime Minister Sali Berisha attended yesterday the ceremony marking the kick off works on two important segments of Tiranë-Elbasan motorway, the first segment (Sauk –Krrabë Tunnel) 13 km long and the third segment (Krrabë Tunnel – Elbasan) 11.7 km in the framework of the 100-th anniversary of independence.

Jv Copri Construction & AKTOR S.A will do the works on these segments and the money is funded by the state budget, the Islamic Development Bank and Abu Dhabi Fund.

Extending a greeting message to the participants, PM Berisha said that this motorway together with the tunnel will have the greatest impact on the Albanian citizens and it will be the most important infrastructure work in the framework of “Albania, a developed country” project.

The prime minister said that only a modern infrastructure will transform the great resources of this country into great development values for all the Albanian citizens.

PM Berisha informed that in the coming weeks we inaugurate kick off works on all road segments toward Korça, along Qukës -Plloçë Pass segment cutting the travel time toward Tirana by 70% less than before. “The continuation of works on building of Tiranë-Elbasan and Elbasan- Korçë motorway, along Qukës -Plloçë Pass segment is a crystal clear evidence of Albania economic performance, the economic drive of this country”, said the prime minister.

The prime minister expressed grateful thanks to the managers of the Jv Copri Construction & AKTOR S.A for the great job done and considered that a present for the Albanians on the 100-th independence anniversary.

The prime minister said that after the hard winter the country passed through spring has begun and it’s the season of implementation of hundreds of infrastructure projects countrywide which will promote Albania into a new higher level of development.

Tiranë-Elbasan motorway, the most important and difficult segment of Corridor 8 is a road of the highest standards built until today in our country, but even in the Balkans region; it’s 28.2 meters wide, 6 lanes and about 1.7 km of bridge and viaducts. Likewise, the road has several overpasses and underpasses.

The motorway will cut the travel time toward Tirana by 40%. From the shortening of the distance will benefit all the other towns on the way to Korça and Erseka or the respective customs and these towns will benefit a 60% less travel time as compared to what is being done today. Likewise, the road cuts by an hour the distance between Tirana and Skopje.

The project on Tiranë-Elbasan motorway has been realized on the bases of a careful study observing the security and environmental aspect and which among other things forecasts the revival of the forests damaged because of the building of the road through planting of thousands of trees. At the place where the road and the rivers intersect, mainly Kushe River area, it is forecast their adjustment as well. Thus, through this project Elbasan city benefits a second project on land adjustment and prevention of erosion as this river used to provoke problems to the lands or has interrupted the village lanes.

Attending the kick off works ceremony together with the prime minister was the Minister of Public Works and Transport Sokol Olldashi, the local authorities, managers and workers of the JV COPRI CONSTRUCTION & AKTOR S.A” companies.