A TENTATIVE TOLL MOTORWAY SOLUTION ON DURRES–TIRANA–ELBASAN ROAD CORRIDOR

Faruk Jusuf Kaba

Last modified: 2017-02-28

Abstract


Albania is facing a challenging task regarding the further development of its transport infrastructure. With the accession to the European Union in mind, the Government of Albania has committed itself to providing some roadway links identified as being integral parts of the planned Pan European Corridors. Being crucial for the economic development of the wider Balkans area, the part that directly relates to Albanian interests is the 8th Pan European, also known as the East–West (Durres–Skopje–Sofia–Varna), Corridor.
At this time, both the East–West and North–South corridors in Albania are almost finished, but some sections of the national road network still require rehabilitation before the two strategic routes can be considered complete. Actually, the central part of the countries road network, especially the road section from Durres to Tirana and Elbasan, is of importance and interest. In the last 14 years, the road section from Durres to Tirana has been built as a 4–lane dual facility. The section Tirana–Elbasan was built in the 30s of the last century, and it's actually a 6–7m wide, paved, mountainous single carriageway.
Durres–Tirana–Elbasan corridor considers the concession project from the private sector. The roads in Albania are located in the economically most developed region. In this region, more than two thirds of the country's population lives, and more than 75 percent of the economy is concentrated there. Two primary corridors, North–South and West–East, intersect here. This region registers most of the transport vehicles. The traffic flow, in some sections of Tirana–Durres, records more than 35 000 AADT. If we take into consideration the very limited possibilities of other means of transport, the resolution of the road infrastructure understudy in this central part of the Country is a challenge for Albania.

Keywords


road network rehabilitation, traffic studies, financial analysis

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