Shkodra Bypass Road, Two Projects Proposed

TIRANA, December 5

The project on the construction of Shkodra bypass road, which has started several years ago without being concluded, is planned to start in the near future. The bypass road project consists of the extension of the north-south corridor and international axis and it can be financed by the European Union. Currently, state authorities are scrutinizing two projects.
According to the first project, the road length is five km. It will be constructed on the western side of the city and it is going to have three lanes per each direction. The total cost of the project is estimated Euro 113 million. It includes five bridges, the biggest over Drin River will have a length of 612 meters and a tunnel. Even though the project includes the tunnel, it is cheaper than the second project.
This project is ten km long, with three lanes per direction and it is planned to be constructed on the Eastern side of the city. Its cost is estimated Euro 143 million and includes eight major constructions. The largest bridge will be over Drin River and it is going to have a length of 770meters.
However, no matter what the winning project will be, the bypass is strongly opposed by environmental associations. According to them, it poses a threat to the basin of Shkodra Lake and it will also have a major impact on this protected area.

News Source/Photo Credit: Shqip