Elbasan–Qafë Thanë Road, ARA: First 7.5 km dual carriageway section to open by the end of June

ARA announces progress on Corridor VIII works and the opening of the first segment in both directions.

Within June, the first 7.5-kilometer segment of the Elbasan–Qafë Thanë road, part of Corridor VIII, is expected to be fully opened to traffic. The Albanian Road Authority states that vehicles will be able to move in both directions, significantly easing traffic on this important national route.

Currently, traffic is operating on only one side of the road, while the completion of expropriation procedures recently approved by the government is expected to enable the full opening of the first segment.

Works continue across all lots

According to the Albanian Road Authority, the Elbasan–Qafë Thanë road consists of eight separate contracts. One of them has been fully completed, while construction is ongoing in the other segments to finalize the planned phases.

The authority projects that most of the works in the current lots will be completed by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, full completion of all eight phases of the project is expected by December 2027.

New phase begins with Hotolisht tunnel

In parallel with ongoing works, a new contract known as the ninth phase of the project is expected to start this year. This phase includes the construction of the Hotolisht tunnel, a structure considered highly important for the route.

The tunnel will solve issues in the village of Hotolisht, as the original design planned for the road to pass through the surface, effectively dividing the village into two parts. This had led to opposition from residents and the local community.

According to the Albanian Road Authority, the tunnel will avoid the negative impact the road would have had on the inhabited area and will also address the demands of the community and local businesses operating in the area.

Corridor VIII is considered one of the most important infrastructure projects in Albania. It aims to connect Albanian ports with North Macedonia and further with the European transport network, improving regional connectivity, facilitating the movement of goods and passengers, and creating new opportunities for economic development.

“KORÇA BOOM”