Highways in Albania

Map of Albanian Motorways as of today. Red: planned, Orange: U/C
Speed limits in Albania

Highways in Albania form part of the recent Albanian road system. Following the collapse of communism in 1991, highways began to be modernized with the construction of the first highway in Albania, SH2, connecting Tirane with Durres via Vora. Since the 2000s, main roadways have drastically improved, though lacking standards in design and road safety.[1][2] This involved the construction of new roadways and the putting of contemporary signs. However, some state roads continue to deteriorate from lack of maintenance while others remain unfinished.

History

Since antiquity, the area of modern Albania served as an important caravan crossroad route between empires through the Via Pubblica and Via Egnatia. The former passed through northern Albania, while the latter linked Rome with Byzantium (later Constantinople), through Durres on the Adriatic Sea. During World War I, occupying forces opened up new road sections mainly in the mountainous areas of the country. In King Zog's period, further road construction took place near Vlora and at Krraba Pass between Tirana and Elbasan.

The total length of Albania's roads more than doubled in the first three decades after World War II, and by the 1980s almost all of the country's remote mountain areas were connected, either by dirt or paved roads, with the capital city of Tirana, and ports on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. Private car ownership was not allowed and the only vehicles circulating were state-owned trucks, agricultural and official's vehicles, buses, motorcycles, and bicycles. The country's roads, however, were generally narrow, poorly marked, pocked with holes, and in the early 1990s often crowded with pedestrians and people riding mules, bicycles, and horse-drawn carts.

Scenic SH8 at Llogara Pass along the Albanian Riviera

The biggest road project in the history of Albania is the construction of the Rrëshen-Kalimash dual carriageway(or the A1 Motorway) from 2007 to 2010, linking Albania with Kosovo. The segment involved the carving of a mountainous terrain, and the construction of a 5.6 km long tunnel and dozens of bridges.[3] In October 2010, Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced plans to build several major highways.[4]

At present, major cities are linked with either new single/dual carriageways or well maintained roads. There is a dual carriageway connecting the port city of Durrës with Tirana, Vlorë, and partially Kukës. In fact, there are three official motorway segments in Albania: Thumanë-Milot-Rrëshen-Kalimash (A1), Levan-Vlorë (A2), and partly Tirane-Elbasan (A3). Most rural segments continue to remain in bad conditions as their reconstruction has only began in the late 2000s by the Albanian Development Fund.[5]

Road system

State Roads (SH) in Albania

All roads are property of Albanian Road Authority (Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar, former Drejtoria e Përgjithshme e Rrugëve) and maintained by Ndërmarrja Shtetërore Rruga-Ura. The government plans to create some toll highways in the near future. Albanian bitumen from Selenicë in Southern Albania is well known for its quality as it has been used on some European motorways.

A new road system has been introduced in the last decade and is classified as follows:[6]

Type Name Definition
Motorway Road (Rrugë Autostradale) Highest level of roadway marked as "A #" on a green field.
State Road (Rrugë Shtetërore) Main and most common level of roadway linking major cities marked as "SH #" on a blue field.
District Road (Rrugë Rrethi) Lower level of roadway found between districts and marked as "Rr #" on a blue field.
Municipal Road (Rrugë Komunale) Lowest level of roadway typically found in rural areas. These segments are marked as "K #" on a white field though it is not observed on the ground.

The major priority of the government in 2014 is the completion of unfinished roadways due to lack of funding. Another major priority is the completion of the Arbër Highway (Rruga e Arbërit) linking Tirana with the city of Debar (Republic of Macedonia) through the current SH6. Eventually, this superstradë will become part of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.[7] Another objective is the completion of the Tirana-Elbasan Highway Motorway (Autostradë) including the Krrabe Tunnel. Other important goals are the launch of toll highways, and the construction of the Southern Axis of Albania (Boshti i Jugut) passing across central and southern Albania. The completion of the Eastern Ring of Albania (Unaza Lindore) passing through Valbonë, Kukës, Krumë, Bulqizë and Librazhd is also a priority. In the mountainous areas, roads can be tight and windy with numerous serpentines and hairpins. When all corridors are completed, Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors.

Despite considerable investments, some dual carriageways are partially up to either motorway or state road standards as they are badly configured, contain unfinished overpasses, uncontrolled access points, lack of fencing and either misplaced or missing road signs, inadequate entry and exit ramps, and are indiscriminately used by animals, mopeds, agricultural vehicles, and pedestrians.

Major roads

A1 Nation's Highway in Northern Albania connecting Albania with Kosovo.
Krraba Tunnel on the A3 Tirana - Elbasan
A2 Fier - Vlore known as the Independence Highway
Olive groves and serpentine on the SH3 at Krraba Pass near Elbasan
Carving of terrain on SH4 Fier (Levan) - Tepelene
Finished works on SH1 Shkoder - Hani Hotit (Montenegro border)
Construction on the Tirana-Elbasan Highway
Unpaved mountain road in the Albanian Alps.
Paved road in Valbona Valley, part of the Albanian Alps. Main roads in the area have only recently been upgraded

Under construction

Since the early 2000s, a major road construction spree took place on the main state roads of Albania, including improving road signage, planting of trees, and greening projects. Works on most highways are mostly completed, though they remained unfinished between 2011 and 2013 as per lack of funds.

Below is a list of main roadways undergoing construction works in the last decade. Most works are completed as of 2015, though some are still underway:

Underway

Completed/unfinished

2000–2005

Driving in Albania

Overtaking a horse-drawn cart on SH1 between Tirana and Shkoder

Despite the perceived negative connotation to driving in Albania, most vehicles manage not to get into accidents by simply exercising common sense and following their own way through the chaotic traffic. The law of the strongest fully applies on the Albanian roads. In cities, traffic is slow thus more secure than in rural areas. Expect reckless driving such as hair-raising overtaking even on turns, driving on the wrong side of the road, stopping on highways by the road side, uncontrolled entrance points, horse-drawn carts and pedestrians, and complete ignoring of stop signs and right of way at intersections. Albanian drivers are prone to using visual and acoustic aids regularly such as honking, headlight flashing, or high beams at night. Daytime running lamps must be activated outside urban areas.

It is strongly recommended to have an up-to-date GPS, as many new roads have been recently added to the Albanian road network. If the GPS does not work, a paper or internet-based map would be useful. Street names on the ground do not always coincide with maps as the current address system has been recently introduced. In the mountains, some roads can be narrow and windy with hairpins, unpaved, and missing guardrails. A portion of these roads are being gradually paved and brought to European standards by the Albanian Development Fund, FSHZH. Other roads still have few road signs or misleading ones. Its strongly advised to always keep a spare tire.

International routes

SH3 along Shkumbin River and part of Pan-European Corridor VIII

Albania acceded the E-road network in 2006.[10] The following international routes pass through the country:

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/strategjia_sektoriale_e_transportit_165_1.pdf
  2. ↑ http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTALBANIA/Resources/Albania_National_Transport_Plan.pdf
  3. ↑ "Albanian Motorway Cuts Travel Time & Boosts Trade - Bechtel". Bechtel. 3 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Business: Albania to focus on new roads (SETimes.com)". 2010-10-15. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  5. ↑ "Fondi Shqiptar i Zhvillimit".
  6. ↑ http://www.dpshtrr.gov.al/images/stories/dpshtrr/info-help/SINJALE_TE_INDIFIKIMIT_TE_RRUGES-Pyetja-Nr-293-299.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.corridor8.org/atti_convegno_tirana/yllka_zaloshnja.pdf
  8. ↑ http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/projects-in-focus/donor-coordination/2-3_april_2009/working_group_transport_seeto_en.pdf
  9. ↑ http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/news_corner/news/news-files/150420-joint-statement.pdf
  10. ↑ UNECE newsletter. "Albania joins E-road agreement" (PDF). UNECE. Retrieved 23 September 2015.

External links

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