The expanded segment of the Tirana–Durrës highway up to the Rinas overpass has been fully opened to traffic, one of the most important and busiest road axes in the country.

Present there were Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, as well as the Director of the Albanian Road Authority, Ami Kozeli.

During the inspection, Minister Karakaçi emphasized the strategic importance of this axis:
“We are on the Tirana–Durrës highway, which is the busiest road in Albania. This segment represents the combination of three phases, with approximately 7 kilometers contracted. We are currently at the initial kilometers, starting from Casa Italia and ending at kilometer 6, at the exit toward Rinas. It should be noted that the first two phases have been completed here, while the third phase is also contracted, which starts from the Rinas overpass and continues to the Laknas overpass,” – stated the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, while also addressing the planned interventions to improve traffic flow:
“We will open additional parts of the road, as the Rinas overpass creates a ‘bottleneck’ that restricts vehicle movement. It is contracted to be dismantled, and the project foresees the construction of new access points and ramps for the airport.”

The completed segment now consists of four lanes and has been built using new asphalt paving technology, applied for the first time in the country, significantly improving road standards and safety.

For his part, the Director of the Albanian Road Authority, Ami Kozeli, stated that the implementation of the greening contract will begin soon, which will change the appearance of the highway. Kozeli also added that works continue in other phases of the project:
“Meanwhile, we are in the construction phase of Phase B, which includes the Laknas interchange, the Rinas overpass, and the widening of the underpass.”

Speaking about the continuation of the investment, Minister Karakaçi announced the acceleration of procedures for the further expansion of the axis:
“We had planned the continuation of the Tirana–Durrës highway for 2027, but following discussions, we will bring it forward to 2026, so that we can immediately continue beyond kilometer 7 with the subsequent segments. This is a priority road, as it connects the Port of Durrës with the rest of the country and directly impacts traffic relief, especially for entries from the north toward Tirana, linking with Rinas Airport and the Kashar interchange,” – stated Minister Karakaçi.

The government is also focusing on advancing other major infrastructure projects within the framework of the Blue Corridor:
“The Kashar–Lekaj segment is in the final stage of technical review and documentation, to begin implementation by the contractor. Meanwhile, the Milot–Balldren segment is in the final stages of the procedure, and very soon, within two to three weeks, the winner is expected to be announced,” – the minister emphasized, highlighting its importance for northern areas and tourism:
“It is a road that facilitates traffic for northern cities, mainly Shkodra and Lezha, and during the summer season contributes to easing congestion along the entire Adriatic coast.”

The opening of this segment and the progress of other projects confirm the continuation of investments in the modernization of road infrastructure and the improvement of transport quality in the country.