The Murriz Tunnel opened on Friday for traffic after a challenging work since its launch due to the problematic geology of the area through which it passes.

The long-awaited Murriz Tunnel, considered the most important part of Tirana-Dibra highway (Arber Road), consists of two tunnels, the main tunnel with a length of 3789 and the emergency tunnel with a length of 3781m, consisting of 11 entrances and exits.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, and the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, participated in the inauguration of the tunnel.

Minister Balluku said that tests have been carried out for the road and the tunnel has been fully completed according to all parameters. She described this investment as the pride of Albanian infrastructure, while announcing that the Maqellara-Peshkopi road will also be completed in April.

She informed me that this tunnel is armored in iron because otherwise, it would not stand. Balluku said that in the meantime, other parts of the Arber Road are also completed, as is the escarpment of the Tujani Stairs area, which is fully completed.

While Prime Minister Rama praised the extraordinary work and encouraged that infrastructural solutions be found for every other part of the road, so that it is as functional and easily accessible as possible.

Speaking about some specifics of the access roads, Deputy Prime Minister Balluku said that “we are conducting a new study. Since we have created the Great Ring Road of Tirana now, all the access roads need to be repaired”.

The Murriz Tunnel also makes the entire Arber road accessible, one of the most important national roads, which will mark economic growth in the area and the tourism sector.

Arber Road, one of the most important arteries of road infrastructure in Albania, the completion of which brings great relief to the connection between Tirana and Dibra. This major project has included the construction of 54 kilometers of road with 10 kilometers of tunnels and 1.4 kilometers of bridges.

The Arber Road, which cost the state budget Lek 33.6 billion, will become an important East-West connecting corridor. The Arber Road has seven tunnels with a total length of 8.5 km.

The Arber Road will not only bring the citizens of Tirana and all of Albania closer to Dibra and North Macedonia but will also be an artery of economic development and tourism.