Transport in Albania
Transport in Albaniaconsists oftransportbyland,waterandair,which are predominantly under the supervision of theMinistry of InfrastructureofAlbania.The development and improvement of the transport in the country remains among the most important priorities of theGovernment of Albania.[1]
It has experienced significant changes and major growth and expansion in recent years, especially after thefall of communismin the country. Improvements to the road infrastructure, urban transport, and air travel have all led to a vast improvement in transportation. These upgrades have played a key role in supporting Albania's economy, which in the past decade has come to rely heavily on the construction industry.
History[edit]
Since antiquity, the area of modern Albania served as a crossroad of important caravan routes such as the RomanVia Egnatialinking the Adriatic withByzantium(later Constantinople). The Italian fascist regime of Mussolini carried out a project of road constructions in Albania in the 1930s, yet auto-mobility was limited at the time.[2]The total length of Albania's roads more than doubled in the first three decades afterWorld War II,and by the 1980s almost all of the country's remote mountain areas were connected, either by dirt or paved roads, with the capital city ofTirana,and ports on theAdriaticandIonian Sea.
After 1947, a significant infrastructure undertaking was the construction of the country's rail network as Albania was considered the only country in Europe not to have standard rail service.[3]By 1987, 677 km of railway were constructed in total linking the main urban and industrial centers for the first time since the end ofWorld War II.Train transport was the main public transportation method until 1990. After the collapse of Communism, the network fell into disregard, operating with second-hand carriages in a constant precarious state.
Central government funding of local road maintenance effectively ended in 1991, and the breakdown of repair vehicles because of a lack of spare parts threatened to close access to some remote areas. A group ofGreekconstruction companies signed a protocol with the Albanian government in July 1990 to build a 200 kilometer road across the southern part of the country, extending from the Albanian-GreekbordertoDurrës.The project was scheduled to last four years and cost US$500 million.[4]Despite the poor quality of Albania's roads, most of the country's freight was conveyed over them in a fleet of about 15,000 trucks. According to official figures, in 1987 Albania's roadways carried about 66 percent of the country's total freight tonnage.
Up until 1991, the total number of cars in Albania was between 5000 and 7000. In 1991, the Albanian government lifted the decades-old ban on private-vehicle ownership. As a result, car imports numbered about 1,500 per month. Traffic in the capital remained light, but traffic lights and other control devices were urgently needed to deal with the multiplying number of privately owned cars. Albanian entrepreneurs also imported used Greek buses and started carrying passengers on intercity routes that did not exist or had been poorly serviced during the communist era.
The population is known for owning a large fleet of German cars. In particular,Mercedes-Benzvehicles are widely preferred not only for their status symbol, but also for their durability on rural roads where half of the population resides, and the cheap price for buying used ones. Mercedes-Benz cars were owned by Enver Hoxha and reportedly favored by his officials, giving the brand a foothold even before private ownership of cars was legalized. Air pollution has become a pressing concern as the number of cars has increased to over 300,000 in the capital Tirana.[5]These are mostly 1990s and early 2000sdieselcars,[6]while it is widely believed that thefuelused in Albania contains larger amounts ofsulfurandleadthan in theEuropean Union.Albania is probably one of the few countries inEuropewhere vehicles imported from theUnited States,and fromleft hand trafficjurisdictions (for example theUnited Kingdom) can be found on the streets without any modifications brought from expats living abroad.
Transportation[edit]
Air[edit]
The most important and biggest internationalairportof the country is theTirana International Airport Nënë Tereza(TIA), inTirana,the country's capital. The total number of passengers for the country was 1,997,044 in 2015 and 2,200,449 in 2016. From January to October 2017, the airport served 2,224,833 passengers and handled 1,857 tons of goods.[7]
In 2005, an American-German consortium was granted a 20-year concession over TIA and Albanian airspace. Despite the considerable modernization of the airport, prices are among the highest in Europe because of the monopoly over Albanian airspace, and limited carrier choices. As a result, low-cost carriers are discouraged from entering the Albanian market, while neighboring countries offer much lower prices from their primary and secondary airports.[8]
Following a period of intensive negotiations, the Albanian government managed to reduce the concession period by 5 years until 2020, thus opening up the possibility for low-cost airlines to enter the Albanian market such as the starting of flights between Tirana and Budapest by Wizz Air in 2017. After reaching an agreement with the Albanian Government to end its monopoly on international flights from Albania,Hochtief AirPortsold the operation of TIA toChina Everbright Limited,[9]
Kukës Airportwas opened in 2008, making this the second civilian airport in Albania but has since not been operational. The airport was bought by an Albanian company and is planned to become operational by 2021 offering low cost flights catered to the Kukes diaspora in the UK and serve as a gateway to the Albanian Alps.[10]
In 2018,Air Albania,the country's current flag carrier was formed by a consortium made up of Turkish Airlines, Albanian Civil Aviation Authority, and several Albanian companies with a test flight to Istanbul. As of 2019, the airline offers service to destinations in Italy and Turkey.
In 2018, the Albanian government announced the construction ofVlorë International Airport,the third civilian airport in Albania near Akerni on the Vjose-Narte Protected Area. In 2019, a new project was unveiled including the construction of a marina and agritourism area.[11]The construction works on the ground for the airport started in 2021, and are expected to finish by 2025.[12][13]
Road[edit]
The overwhelming majority of roads in the country are owned and maintained by state and local governments. In recent years, a major road construction spree took place on the main state roads of Albania, involving the construction of new roadways, putting of contemporary signs, planting of trees, and related greening projects. Works on most highways are completed, though they remained unfinished between 2011 and 2013 as per lack of funds.
After the fall of communism in 1991, Albania began to revamp its primitive road infrastructure by building the first highway in Albania, SH2 connecting Tirane with Durrës. Since the 2000s, main roadways have drastically improved, though lacking standards in design and road safety.[14][15]
At present, major cities are linked with either new single/dual carriageways or well maintained roads. There is a dual carriageway connecting the port city ofDurrëswithTirana,Vlorë,and partiallyKukës.There are three official motorway segments in Albania: Thumanë-Milot-Rrëshen-Kalimash (A1), Levan-Vlorë (A2), and partly Tirane-Elbasan (A3). Most rural segments continue to remain in bad conditions as their reconstruction has only begun in the late 2000s by the Albanian Development Fund.[16]
- Total: 18,000 km
- Paved: 12,920 km
- Unpaved: 5,080 km (2002 est.)[17]
country comparison to the world:118
All roads are property ofAlbanian Road Authority(Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar,former Drejtoria e Përgjithshme e Rrugëve) and maintained by Ndërmarrja Shtetërore Rruga-Ura. The government plans to create sometoll highwaysin the near future. Albanianbitumenfrom Selenicë in Southern Albania is well known for its quality as it has been used on some European motorways.
Motorways[edit]
| Motorway | County | Length | Description | Cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Durrës,Tirana,Lezhë,Kukës | 114 km (71 mi) | The A1 (Albanian:Autostrada A1) is a fourtraffic lanemotorway spanning 114 km (71 mi).[18]The motorway is the only toll motorway in Albania and connects theAlbanian Adriatic Sea CoastatDurrësin the southwest with theAlbanian AlpsatMorinëin the northeast. It forms part of theEuropean route E851,plannedAdriatic–Ionian motorway,andPan-European Corridor X.[19] | Durrës,Laç,Lezhë,Rrëshen,Kukës |
|
Fier,Vlorë | 46.5 km (28.9 mi) | The A2 (Albanian:Autostrada A2) is a fourtraffic lanemotorway, spanning 46.5 km (28.9 mi). The motorway connectsFierin the north andVlorëin the south. It will form part of theAdriatic–Ionian motorway. | Fier,Vlorë |
|
Tirana,Elbasan | 31.2 km (19.4 mi) | The A3 (Albanian:Autostrada A3) is a fourtraffic lanemotorway, spanning 31 km (19 mi). The motorway connectsTiranain the northwest andElbasanin the southeast. It will form part of thePan-European Corridor VIII. | Tirana,Elbasan |
Expressways[edit]
| Expressway | County | Length | Description | Cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Durrës,Lezhë,Shkodër,Tirana | 125 km (78 mi) | The SH 1 (Albanian:Rruga Shtetërore SH 1) is an expressway, spanning 125 km (78 mi). The expressway connectsMontenegroacross thecountiesofShkodër,Lezhë,DurrësandTiranato the capital ofTirana.It is currently part of theEuropean routesE762andE851and will form part of theAdriatic–Ionian motorway. | Fushë-Krujë,Koplik,Laç,Lezhë,Shkodër,Tirana |
|
Durrës,Tirana | 33 km (21 mi) | The SH 2 (Albanian:Rruga Shtetërore SH 2) is an expressway, spanning 33 km (21 mi). The expressway connects the capitalTiranaacross thecountiesofDurrësandTiranato the second largest city ofDurrës.It is currently part of theEuropean route E762. | Durrës,Tirana |
|
Elbasan,Korçë,Tirana | 151 km (94 mi) | The SH 3 (Albanian:Rruga Shtetërore SH 3) is an expressway, spanning 151 km (94 mi). The expressway connectsGreeceacross thecountiesofElbasan,Korçë,andTiranato the capitalTirana.It is currently part of theEuropean routesE86andE852. | Elbasan,Korçë,Librazhd,Pogradec,Tirana |
|
Durrës,Fier,Gjirokastër,Tirana | 215 km (134 mi) | The SH 4 (Albanian:Rruga Shtetërore SH 4) is an expressway, spanning 215 km (134 mi). The expressway connectsDurrësacross thecountiesofElbasan,Korçë,andTiranatoGreece.It is currently part of theEuropean route E853and will form part of theAdriatic–Ionian motorway. | Durrës,Fier,Gjirokastër,Lushnjë,Rogozhina,Tepelenë |
|
Elbasan,Tirana | 40.5 km (25.2 mi) | The SH 7 (Albanian:Rruga Shtetërore SH 7) is an expressway, spanning 40.5 km (25.2 mi). The expressway connectsRogozhinaacross thecountiesofElbasanandTiranatoElbasan.It is currently part of thePan-European Corridor VIII. | Elbasan,Peqin,Rogozhina |
|
Fier,Vlorë | 148 km (92 mi) | The SH 8 (Albanian:Rruga Shtetërore SH 8) is an expressway, spanning 148 km (92 mi). The expressway connectsFieracross thecountiesofFier,VlorëtoSarandë. | Fier,Himara,Sarandë,Vlorë |
|
Elbasan | 3.2 km (2.0 mi) | The SH 9 (Albanian:Rruga Shtetërore SH 9) is an expressway, spanning 3.2 km (2.0 mi). The expressway connectsQafë Thanëacross thecountyofElbasantoNorth Macedonia.It is currently part of theEuropean route E852. | – |
Corridors[edit]
The realisation of theAdriatic–Ionian Corridor,that is expected to connect all the region from the northwest to the southwest of theBalkan Peninsula,is considered one of the most important infrastructure projects of Albania.[1][20][21]The corridor is planned to follow the routes of theSH1,SH2,SH4 expressways and theA1motorway nonetheless the country has mostly completed its corridor section and significant constructions are still in progress such as the highway between Thumana andKasharas well as thebypassesofGjirokastër,Lezhë,TepelenëandTirana.[1]
Rail[edit]
Total: 447 km
country comparison to the world:120
Standard gauge: 447 km1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in) gauge (2006)
Railway links with neighbouring countries:
Kosovo- no
Greece- no
North Macedonia- no
Montenegro- yes (freight service only)
Water[edit]
- Total: 43 km plus Albanian sections ofLake Scutari,Ohër Lake,andBig Prespa Lake(1990)
Albania's main seaports areDurrës,Vlorë,Sarandë,andShëngjin.By 1983 there were regular ferry, freight, and passenger services from Durrës toTrieste,Italy.
In 1988, a ferry service was established between Sarandë and the Greek island ofCorfu.A regular lake ferry linked theMacedoniantown ofOhridwithPogradec.The limited capacity of the wharves at Durrës caused severe bottlenecks in the distribution of foreign food aid in 1991. In 2011, thePort of Durrësunderwent major renovations including the construction of a new passenger terminal. The port is expected to be relocated nearby, and a new luxury yachts marina constructed by Dubai based Emaar company called Durres Yachts and Marina.
The Merchant Marine include 24 vessels country comparison to the world:91 Total includes 7 ships of 1,000 gross tonnage (GT) or over, totalling: 13,423 GT/20,837 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
Ferry services within Albania:
- Lake Komani Ferryoperates between Koman and Fierza in Northern Albania
- Butrint Cable Ferry crosses the Vivari Channel atButrintin Southern Albania
- Karaburun Ferry has operated since 2014 between theKaraburun PeninsulaandSazan Islandalong the Albanian Riviera in southern Albania (seasonal)[22]
| Port |
County | Coordinates |
External Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Durrës(planned to be relocated and a luxury marina built in its place) | Durrës County | 41°18′35″N19°27′26″E/ 41.30972°N 19.45722°E | www |
| Port of Sarandë | Vlorë County | 39°52′15″N20°0′11″E/ 39.87083°N 20.00306°E | www |
| Port of Shëngjin | Lezhë County | 41°48′20″N19°35′35″E/ 41.80556°N 19.59306°E | portishengjin |
| Port of Vlorë | Vlorë County | 40°27′1″N19°29′0″E/ 40.45028°N 19.48333°E | www |
| Orikum Marina | Vlorë County | 40°20′25″N19°28′20″E/ 40.34028°N 19.47222°E | www |
| Porto Albania (under construction) | Durrës County | 41°08′34″N19°26′26″E/ 41.14278°N 19.44056°E | www |
Pipelines[edit]
- Crude oil 207 km (129 mi); natural gas 229 km (142 mi) (2008)
The construction of 1.2 billion dollarAMBO pipelinewas planned to begin in 2007. This would connect the port of Burgas in Bulgaria with the port of Vlora in Albania. It is expected to ship 750,000 barrels (119,000 m3) to 1,000,000 barrels (160,000 m3) of crude oil each day. However, theTrans Adriatic Pipelineseems more likely to get started.
TheTrans Adriatic Pipelineis a pipeline project to transport natural gas from the Caspian Sea, starting from Greece via Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy and further to Western Europe.
TAP's route through Albania is approximately 215 kilometres onshore and 37 km offshore in the Albanian section of theAdriatic sea.It starts at Bilisht Qendër in theKorçaregion at the Albanian border with Greece, and arrives at the Adriatic coast 17 km north-west ofFier,400 metres inland from the shoreline. A compressor station will be built nearFier,and an additional compressor is planned near Bilisht should capacity be expanded to 20 billion cubic metres (bcm). Eight block valve stations and one landfall station will be built along its route.[23]
In the mountainous areas, approximately 51 km of new access roads will be constructed while 41 km of existing roads will be upgraded, 42 bridges refurbished and three new bridges built. In the summer of 2015, TAP started the construction and rehabilitation of access roads and bridges along the pipeline's route in Albania. The work is expected to be completed during 2016.[23]
Public transportation[edit]
Public transport in Albania is mainly characterized by the use offurgons,the equivalent ofminibuses,vans or shuttles identifiable by yellow plates. They are convenient but do not follow fixed schedules, depart when are full, and are not usually equipped with A/C. Prices might be negotiated with the driver before departing.Bustransport is also available.
Tirana,the capital city does not have yet a centralbus station.Minibuses and buses drop off and pick up passengers from various fixed places around the city and en route.
In anticipation of the construction of the two new Multi-Modal Terminals of Tirana near the Kamza Overpass at the western entrance of Tirana, and at the southeastern entrance of the city near TEG Shopping Center, the Municipality of Tirana has opened three temporary bus terminals to regulate the chaos of public transport between towns in Tirana as follows:
- Northern and Southern Albania Regional Bus Terminal (including Durres)at Kamza Overpass (Kthesa e Kamzes) on the site of the future Tirana Terminal
- Kosovo and International Lines Bus Terminalon Dritan Hoxha St behind Asllan Rusi Sports Palace
- Southeastern Albania Regional Bus Terminalat Student City (Qyteti Studenti) in southeastern Tirana
Driving in Albania[edit]
Despite the perceived negative connotation to driving in Albania, most vehicles manage not to get into accidents by simply exercising common sense, and following their own way through the chaotic traffic. The law of the strongest fully applies on the Albanian roads. In cities, traffic is slow thus more secure than in rural areas. Expect reckless driving such as hair-raising overtaking even on turns, driving on the wrong side of the road, stopping on highways by the road side, uncontrolled crossing of cars, horse-drawn carts and pedestrians, and complete ignoring of stop signs and right of way at intersections. Albanian drivers are prone to using visual and acoustic aids regularly such as honking,headlight flashing,orhigh beamsat night.Daytime running lampsmust be activated outside urban areas. It is strongly recommended to have an up-to-date GPS, as many new roads have been recently added to the Albanian road network. In case the GPS does not work, its good to have an alternative paper or internet-based map. Street names on the ground do not always coincide with maps, as the current address system has only recently been introduced. In the mountains, some roads can be narrow and windy with hairpins/serpentines and some missing guardrails. Drivers are encouraged to check engine liquid levels to avoid overheating in the summer months. Some roads still have few road signs or misleading ones. Its strongly advised to always keep a spare tire.
As vehicles more than doubled in recent years, traffic fatalities have increased especially in a country where private car ownership was banned until the early 1990s. Some experts also attribute the increase to the above road structural problems, lack of buckling up, the use of alcohol, excessive speed, and unaccustomed drivers such as expats returning home. In an effort to curb such a phenomenon, mobile police patrols have been deployed, road signage improved, andspeed radarsinstalled on major roadways and city intersections.
Registered road vehicles as of 2023:[24]
| Vehicle | Number |
|---|---|
| Cars | 753,252 |
| Motorcycles | 54,968 |
| Trucks | 21,520 |
| Buses | 8,603 |
| Trailers | 10,455 |
| Agricultural machinery | 3204 |
| Construction vehicles | 1,201 |
| Motor-homes & Caravans | 367 |
| Other | 14,195 |
| Total | 867,765 |
Biking in Albania[edit]
Prior to thefall of communism in Albania,most people didn't have private cars.[25]The capitalTiranahad dropped dramatically to a 3% bicycle modeshare as of 2014, but has abikeshare programworking to revive bicycling.[26]Today,Shkodëris the bicycle capital of Albania,[27]with 30% of people biking as of 2016.[28]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcMinistria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë."SECTORIAL STRATEGY OF TRANSPORT & ACTION PLAN 2016 – 2020"(PDF).infrastruktura.gov.al.Tirana.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2022-10-09.
- ^Dalakoglou, D, 2017 The Road: An Ethnography of (im)mobility, Spaces and Cross-Border Infrastructures in the Balkans. Manchester University Press
- ^Hekurudha Shqiptare
- ^"Albania - Road Transportation".countrystudies.us.Retrieved2022-06-12.
- ^http://www.corp.at/archive/CORP2010_14.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:"Stoku i makinave të përdorura - News, Lajme - Vizion Plus".YouTube.
- ^INSTAT."Statistikat e transportit"(PDF).instat.gov.al(in Albanian). Tirana. pp. 1–6.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2022-10-09.
- ^Kurani, Edison (8 September 2014)."Albania among the countries with the cheapest transport. Maybe because it doesn't exist?".BalkanEU.com.
- ^"Shqiptarja.com - Aeroporti i Rinasit kalon 100% tek kompania kineze".Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2016.Retrieved21 February2017.
- ^"Të dhëna dhe Metodologjia Analitike për Planifikimin e Agregateve: Në mbështetje të praktikave më të mira për Planifikimin e Qëndrueshëm të Agregateve".2015-02-17.doi:10.5474/snapsee-wp4-sq.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^"Vlora airport, the Albanian government presents the new project".albanianews.it.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-12-20.Retrieved2019-12-20.
- ^"The works for Vlora Airport start, Balluku reveals when it will be functional: About 1000 jobs are created, we aim to reach".
- ^"Albania invites bids for Vlora airport construction project".SEE News.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-05-20.Retrieved2015-06-19.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTALBANIA/Resources/Albania_National_Transport_Plan.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^"About ADF".albaniandf.org.Albanian Development Fund. Archived fromthe originalon 30 January 2016.Retrieved21 January2016.
- ^"Investimet Publike « Partia Demokratike e Shqiperise".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-05-09.Retrieved2009-06-19.
- ^"MILOT – MORINE HIGHWAY PROJECT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION"(PDF).businesshungary.gov.hu.p. 8.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2022-10-09.
- ^United Nations Economic Commission for Europe."European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries"(PDF).unece.org.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2022-10-09.Retrieved26 April2011.
- ^"Albania, Montenegro Flag Up Adriatic Highway".balkaninsight.com.28 January 2016.
Albanian officials say the highway that will connect the Adriatic with the Ionian sea is one of the most important regional infrastructural projects that it is putting into effect.
- ^Ministria për Europën dhe Punët e Jashtme."THE FIRST INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING ALBANIA-MONTENEGRO SHKODRA, 3 JULY 2018".punetejashtme.gov.al.
PM highlighted some of the most important issues and projects which affect not only bilaterally but also regionally: the Adriatic-Ionian Highway
- ^"Our Services".hotelregina.al.Hotel Regina, Radhime, Vlore, Albania.Retrieved21 January2016.
- ^ab"Pipeline construction in Albania".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-19.Retrieved2016-10-24.
- ^"Open Data DPSHTRR English | DPSHTRR".
- ^Tirana, Sean Williams in (2014-07-11)."Tirana fights to beat its addiction to cars and get its residents cycling".the Guardian.Retrieved2022-08-25.
- ^Tirana, Sean Williams in (2014-07-11)."Tirana fights to beat its addiction to cars and get its residents cycling".the Guardian.Retrieved2022-08-25.
- ^"Shkodra travel".Lonely Planet.Retrieved2022-08-25.
- ^"Shkodra".Park4SUMP.Retrieved2022-08-25.
External links[edit]
- Ministria e InfrastrukturësOfficial Website(in Albanian and English)
- FSHZH - Albanian Development FundOfficial Website(in Albanian)
- Autoriteti Rrugor ShqiptarOfficial Website(in Albanian)
- Autoriteti Aviacionit ShqiptarOfficial Website(in Albanian and English)
