The Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku inspected this Wednesday the progress of the works on the Orikum-Dukat road, which is expected to be opened for vehicle traffic on Thursday. 

In her speech, Balluku emphasized that the construction of the Llogara tunnel and the expansion of the Orikum Dukat axis are part of the government's strategy for the development of tourism and these works will be completed within 2024. 

"The entire southern infrastructure area, starting from the Fier bypass and then continuing with Fier-Levan-Vlora, continuing with the airport road which is connected to the highway, with the Vlora bypass, with Orikum-Dukat and obviously with the Llogara tunnel, are one of the best studied parts that we have today in the Republic of Albania. So, in 2024, all these axes that I mentioned will all be functional", said Balluku, adding that through these projects, the south will have a modern infrastructure, completed with all its integrated and connected components. 

Balluku said that the improvement of the turning radii and the expansion of this road axis is done in order to increase road safety and speed of movement. According to her, this investment is well studied to connect the north with the south and to connect Albania with the region. 

"Infrastructure in Albania is not done either for electoral reasons or for anyone's demands or wishes. It is done in a studied manner to connect the north with the south and to connect Albania with the region, turning Albania into one of the most important countries in terms of road infrastructure interconnection, but without forgetting the railway which is one of the new components of the infrastructure to connect Albania with the entire region", underlined Balluku.