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Adriatic-Ionian corridor/ Muqiran-Lezhë length over 40 kilometers, two variants under discussion

2024-05-17 07:30:00, Ekonomi CNA

Adriatic-Ionian corridor/ Muqiran-Lezhë length over 40 kilometers, two

Illustrative photo

The project for the construction of the Muriqan-Lezhë axis is expected to be the center of at least four hearings in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, in the Municipality of Shkodër, that of Lezhë and Vaun e Deja, and will focus on the non-technical summary drawn up for this project.

The latter presents two alternatives for one of the most important segments of the Adriatic Ionian Corridor (KAJ), 20 percent of which passes through our country.

Specifically, the publication supported by the Western Balkans Investment Framework under the name "Mediterranean Corridor (Tracks 1 and 2): Adriatic-Ionian Road Corridor in Albania and Montenegro, Murriqan-Lezhë Section" brings at least two alternatives for the track where pass this project.

According to the document, the highway consists of two carriageways with a total length of about 40.3 km, starting from the Albania-Montenegro border point in Murriqan (Ch. 0+000) and ending in the north of Lezha (Balldren, near Ch. 40+300) . The proposed outline of the highway envisages that the first part of the KAJ in Albania will be completely in a new corridor, to avoid interference with the existing network of the National Road, which serves the area's traffic (local and general traffic).

"On the new highway, four level crossings are foreseen, namely IC-01 Murriqan (approx. Ch. 1+200 near the border point), IC-02 Shkodër (approx. Ch. 9+900 at the level crossing with the built road newly Shkodër – Velipojë / SH27), IC-03 ??Vau i Dejes (approx. Ch. 16+350 at the level crossing with road SH28 to Vau e Dejës) and IC-04 Lezhë (approx. Ch. 37+800 in the north of Lezha). The highway is designed for a speed of 120 km/h," the document states.

The two alternatives

The publication for the project envisages two tracks as far as the Muriqan-Lezhë road can pass.

One is totally new while the other passes through other existing segments and has less impact on the protected areas where it passes.

“-Alternative 1A (dashed purple line) – completely new outline. This variant is about 27.5 km long and generally follows a northwest-southeast direction and is completely new construction (without any duplication).

It starts in the village of Fraskanjel, where a new border crossing and a new bridge over the Buna River were supposed to be built. Most of its length is located at the foot of Mount Renci (eastern side). The end point is proposed to be at the entrance of the Lezha tunnel (part of section 2 of the KAJ).

However, this alternative produced large amounts of earthworks, which increased the cost drastically. This alternative crosses the central area (core) of the protected area of ??the Buna River with a length of about 1.2 km.

-Alternative 1B (continuous green line) – new alignment (about 13 km) and double expansion of the existing road (about 25.8 km). This variant is about 38.8 km long and in the first 1/3 of its length (up to the level crossing with the Sh1 national road) it follows the west-east direction, while the remaining length follows the northwest-southeast direction. It starts after the existing Murriqani border point and ends approximately at the same point as Alternative A1. This alternative is a combination of new construction and double widening of the existing Sh1 national road. For these alternatives, special drafts and estimates have been prepared to further guide the consultations between the countries and the selection of the preferred project option.

The most feasible and acceptable alternative from all points of view was considered to be alternative 1B, which further during the conceptual design phase has been improved regarding the minimization of environmental and social effects by emphasizing the impact on the protected and sensitive area of the Buna River and avoiding important developments along the route (near Vau i Deja, Melgushe, Balldren)".

The total cost of the project is estimated at 255 million euros. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has offered loans with a total value of 128 million euros, while the Albanian government will contribute 30.3 million euros, while another part will be requested as a grant. The deadline for the completion of this important axis for the EU is planned for 2029./ Monitor