Motorways in Albania

Summary

The motorways in Albania (Albanian: Autostrada or Autoudhë) are the controlled-access highway system in Albania predominantly under the supervision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. The motorways are characterised as roads with at least two lanes in each driving direction including an emergency lane and a maximum allowed speed limit of not less than 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph).[1]

Autostradat shqiptare

Route markers for motorways
A1, A2, A3
Motorways in Albania.png
A map of the Albanian motorway network
System information
Maintained by Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar
Length191.6 km (119.1 mi)
Highway names
Autostrada:Autostrada X
(A X)
The sign in the beginning of the motorway.

The longest motorway in Albania constitute the A1 motorway which connects Durrës in Albania to Pristina in Kosovo. There is also a motorway from Fier to Vlorë, the A2 motorway, as well as the A3 motorway from Tirana to Elbasan. The majority of the motorways are still under construction or in various stages of development such as the bypasses of Fier, and Tirana and the planned sections between Thumana and Kashar, and between Milot and Balldren. In some ways, Albanian motorway road signs bears some similarity to those of Italy.[2]

Motorways edit

Completed edit

Motorway County Length Cities Description
  Durrës, Tirana, Lezhë, Kukës 114 km (71 mi) Durrës, Laç, Lezhë, Rrëshen, Kukës The A1 (Albanian: Autostrada A1) is mostly a four traffic lane toll motorway spanning 114 km (71 mi).[3] The motorway connects the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast at Durrës in the southwest to the Albanian Alps at Morinë in the northeast. As of 2020, the motorway is being upgraded to full motorway standard. It is part of the European route E851, Pan-European Corridor X and the proposed Adriatic–Ionian motorway.[4]
  Fier, Vlorë 46.5 km (28.9 mi) Fier, Vlorë The A2 (Albanian: Autostrada A2) is a four traffic lane motorway spanning 46.5 km (28.9 mi). The motorway connects Fier in the north from the Bypass of Fier to Vlorë in the south to the Bypass of Vlorë. The Bypass of Fier was completed in June 2020.[5][6] It will be a segment of the proposed Adriatic–Ionian motorway.
  Tirana, Elbasan 31.1 km (19.3 mi) Tirana, Elbasan The A3 (Albanian: Autostrada A3) is a four traffic lane motorway spanning 31.1 km (19.3 mi). The motorway connects Tirana in the northwest to Elbasan in the southeast. It is part of the Pan-European Corridor VIII.[7]

Future projects edit

Motorway County Length Section Description Scheduled completion
  Lezhe, Durrës, Tirana, Fier 115 km (71 mi) Milot – Fier Linking A1 with central and southern Albania, the section between Milot and Fier is part of the planned Adriatic Ionian motorway. The construction of the section between Thumana and Kashar began in 2019.[2][8][9] 2024

 

Lezhe 17 km (11 mi) Milot – Balldren The section between Milot and Balldren is part of Tirana-Shkodër corridor linking A1 at the Milot interchange with northern Albanian Adriatic Sea resorts. The project includes the construction of a tunnel bypassing Lezhe and is part of the planned Adriatic-Ionian Motorway.
  Elbasan, Berat, Gjirokastër 79 km (49 mi) BeratTepelenë The construction of the section between Berat and Tepelenë is under planning process.[10] The Bypass of Tepelenë was completed in July 2020.[11][12]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "KODI RRUGOR I REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). pp.gov.al (in Albanian). Tirana. p. 76.
  2. ^ a b Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë. "SECTORIAL STRATEGY OF TRANSPORT & ACTION PLAN 2016 – 2020" (PDF). infrastruktura.gov.al. Tirana.
  3. ^ "MILOT – MORINE HIGHWAY PROJECT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION" (PDF). businesshungary.gov.hu. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  4. ^ United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. "European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries" (PDF). unece.org. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Bypass-i i Fierit në dispozicion të publikut" (in Albanian). Kryeministria. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Hapet qarkullimi në të dyja krahët e bypass-it të Fierit" (in Albanian). Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  7. ^ "FROM STABILIZATION TO CONSOLIDATION: ALBANIAN STATE CAPACITY AND ADAPTATION TO EUROPEAN UNION RULES" (PDF). eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie. p. 14.
  8. ^ Agjencia Telegrafike Shqiptare (19 June 2018). "Construction of Kashar-Thumana Highway connecting north Albania to capital city". en.ata.gov.al.
  9. ^ Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë (April 2018). "COMPETITIVE PROCEDURE DOCUMENTS OF THE CONCESSION/PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON THE IMPROVEMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THUMANË–FUSHË-KRUJË–VORË–KASHAR ROAD" (PDF). openprocurement.al. pp. 2–3.
  10. ^ "PREZANTOHET PROJEKTI TEKNIK I AUTOSTRADËS TIRANË - ELBASAN" (in Albanian). Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Hapet bypass-i i Tepelenës, një tjetër vepër e rëndësishme e aksit Veri-Jug" (in Albanian). Kryeministria. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Hapet bypass-i Tepelenës, një tjetër nyje e rëndësishme e infrastrukturës rrugore në vend" (in Albanian). Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë. 13 July 2020. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.

External links edit

  • Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy Official Website
  • Albanian Road Authority Official Website