The Albanian Road Authority (ARRSH) has signed the contracts for the construction of the first two phases of the Elbasan bypass road, paving the way for the start of works for one of the segments that will connect the Tirana-Elbasan highway with Corridor VIII.

Both contracts were signed on July 28, 2026 and have an implementation period of 24 months, with an expected completion in July 2028.

For the first phase, the contract was signed with the company “2 T”, with a value of around Lek 2.13 billion excluding VAT, or around Lek 2.56 billion including VAT.

Meanwhile, the second phase will be built by the company “Salillari”. The contract has a value of Lek 1.8 billion excluding VAT, or Lek 2.16 billion including VAT. In total, the two contracts amount to around Lek 3.93 billion excluding VAT, or Lek 4.72 billion including VAT.

The two phases include the construction of a connecting road between the Tirana-Elbasan segment and Corridor VIII, in a segment approximately 4 km long that forms part of the Elbasan bypass. The route starts before the Bradashesh roundabout and ends near the former Metallurgical Plant.

The investment aims to reduce traffic load at the entrances and exits of the Tirana-Elbasan highway, especially in the Bradashesh area, which has been one of the most problematic points for vehicle traffic for years.

The Elbasan bypass is an integral part of Corridor VIII and will create a connection between the two main segments that are currently under development, Elbasan-Lekaj and Elbasan-Qafë Thanë. The full investment for the bypass is also included in the Priority Policy Document 2027-2029, where the project is estimated at a total cost of around Euro 240 million.