On the already expanded Tirana-Durrës highway, the speed limit is 100 kilometers per hour due to construction. When the expansion project is fully completed, the speed limit will increase to 140 kilometers per hour.
"Current works include increasing the category of the highway, which will go to category A, but due to the intensity of the works and the proximity of the overpasses to each other because we have both the Laknas junction and the Rinas junction, which are a relatively short distance away, we initially decided that the speed will be 100 kilometers per hour. An additional element is that we will also have monitoring cameras, which will be located at all pedestrian overpasses," said Ami Kozeli, director of the Albanian Road Authority.
After the expansion, the pedestrian overpasses will also be remodeled.
"We will begin the implementation of the contract for urban design and decoration, which includes, in addition to greenery, which will be done on both sides of the road and on the traffic divider in the middle, lighting. It is an element that will be included in the new contract, as well as pedestrian crossings that will be 6 in total, in the positions that were there before, but now they will be larger because we have an expansion of the highway," added Kozeli.
After expanding the first 7 kilometers of the highway, the Albanian Road Authority is continuing work on the construction of the Rinas and Laknas overpasses.
"At this moment, work has begun on the installation of the supporting piles for the Laknas overpass. At this moment, we have diverted traffic to the emergency lane, and to the third lane, the slow lane. Meanwhile, the drainage channel will also be built, to discipline the waters of the Laknas overpass. We anticipate that these works will last 45-50 days, because they are large volumes. At the same time, we are also continuing the work on the Rinas overpass, at this moment a provisional ramp has been created in the Tirana-Rinas direction, while we are moving an electrical cabin that is on the descending ramp, from Rinas in the direction of Durrës. The moment these and an expropriation that we are waiting for from the Council of Ministers occur, we will also begin the dismantling of the Rinas overpass", said the head of the ARRSH.
The Director of the Albanian Road Traffic Agency, Ami Kozeli, explains in an interview for "Vizion Plus" why the Rinas overpass should be dismantled and how traffic will be diverted.
"It needs to be dismantled because it coincides with the expansion of the road axis, so that we can go with the same width. Currently, we are going from 3 lanes to 2 lanes. With the dismantling of the Rinasti overpass, it is necessary to inform what the traffic will be like: to go to Rinas from Tirana, there will be two options, the current one, that is, the free road that is currently, through the provisional ramp, and the toll road of course. Meanwhile, in the Durrës-Tirana direction, the free road will be that of Vora. The new overpass will be 94 meters long. I do not have a specific deadline for the construction of the overpass, but it is monthly", declared Kozeli.
Works for the further expansion of the highway are expected to begin within this year.
"For the other lots, we want to bring them closer as soon as the budget review takes place, we hope to start their development within 2026. There are two lots that coincide with Vorë-Fushë Krujë until the Vorë exit, so we also pass the Vorë roundabout, on the train route that is behind Vorë," he said.
Regarding the rehabilitation of the secondary road, Ami Kozeli explained:
"Secondary roads are not in the ARRSH inventory. To my knowledge, the Municipality of Tirana had a plan for the complete rehabilitation of the secondary road, but in coordination, we put them on hold because we could not start work on both roads at the same time."
Meanwhile, works on the first section of the Ndroqi road are expected to be completed in mid-July, to be followed by the other two phases, which will total 9.8 kilometers.
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