One of the most important infrastructure projects for southeastern Albania, the Qukës – Qafë Plloçë road axis, was officially opened to vehicle traffic today. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, along with representatives of local government and residents of the area.

This 43-kilometer road segment represents a strategic investment that will significantly ease travel toward the southeastern region of the country, while also creating real development opportunities for the surrounding area, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and agritourism.

Deputy Prime Minister Balluku emphasized that the project, initially launched in 2010–2011, required a comprehensive technical review due to the area’s geological challenges and the mismatch with the needs of local communities.

Prime Minister Rama underlined the many construction challenges and highlighted the strategic importance of completing this axis.

The Qukës – Qafë Plloçë axis is part of Corridor VIII, an important international artery linking Albania with neighboring countries. The segment consists of two lanes, each 3.75 meters wide, with an additional one-meter emergency lane on both sides, a third lane in steep areas to enable safe overtaking, two tunnels with a total length of approximately 1.1 km, and four bridges, including two suspended steel bridges.

The next challenge will be ensuring effective maintenance, given the harsh climatic conditions of the mountainous area, such as frost and snowfall.

This investment marks another important step toward the modernization of national infrastructure and strengthening connections with Corridor VIII, paving the way for sustainable development of both the region and the country.