The EU finances the Murriqan-Lezhë highway, cost 255 million euros for 41 km, final deadline 2029

2023-10-23 09:15:00, Ekonomi CNA

The EU finances the Murriqan-Lezhë highway, cost 255 million euros for 41

The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), which coordinates grants and loans from donors, mainly the European Union and the World Bank, is coordinating the financing of the first segment of the Adriatic-Ionian highway, Murriqan - Lezhë, part of the main European road network (TEN- T).

According to official data from WBIF, the Murriqan - Lezhë (Balldren) highway will have a length of 41 km, new extension and doubling of the existing highway. 8 intersections, 23 underpasses and 8 bridges are foreseen (total length 1210 m).

The proposed design category is "A", with a design speed of 120 km/h. Additionally, 24.1 km of secondary and service roads will be constructed to assist agricultural, industrial and other activities along the main road and to ensure communication between the two sides of the highway.

The total cost of the project is estimated at 255 million euros, of which 128 million euros are loans and 100 million euros have been applied for a grant from the Albanian government to WBIF.

For the loan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has been offered, with a total value of 128 million euros, while the Albanian government will contribute 30.3 million euros.

The deadline for the completion of this important action for the EU is planned for 2029.

WBIF has awarded a grant of 1.6 million euros which finances the preparation of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), a Preliminary Design and analysis to update the cost-benefits section of the Murriqan-Balldren highway.

The Adriatic-Ionian Road Corridor (AIC) is the indicative extension of the TEN-T Mediterranean Core Network Corridor that connects central and northern Europe with the Balkan peninsula, from Trieste in Italy to Kalamata in Greece.

The length from Italy to Greece will be approximately 1,500 km. In the Western Balkans region, the Corridor passes through Montenegro (approximately 110 km or 7% of the total length) and Albania (approximately 315 km or 20% of the total length).

The Mediterranean Corridor, which will include the part of the Balkan coast, will be a route in the function of a cultural and touristic region.

All the countries where the axis passes from Spain to Greece, the corridor offers the most beautiful parts of the culture, geography and tourism of Europe, with a rich tourist offer. This axis takes on strategic importance, as it is connected to the Silk Corridor at the ports of Istanbul.

As far as Croatia, the corridor is almost complete, while from Montenegro and Albania, the infrastructure has to be redone almost 70% from scratch.

In the Albanian part, several important axes from Milot to Fier are being built with a concession and the winners have already been announced.

According to the data from the feasibility study, the Adriatic-Ionian Highway in Albanian territory starts in Muriqan and continues in Balldren, Milot, Thumanë, Kashar, Lekaj, Konjat, the bypass of Fier, Levan, Poçem, Memaliaj, Subash, the bypass of Gjirokastra and ends in Kakavije, in 13 segments with a length of 318 kilometers, including the bypass of Fier which is in the process of construction.

Of these 5 segments will be built from scratch, while the other 8 will be duplicated and brought to the parameters of a category A highway, with a speed of 12 kilometers per hour. /Monitor.al