Transport in Albania

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Main national roads of Albania

Transport in Albania has been rather undeveloped during the Communist period (between 1945 and 1990), after which the country has had to make significant investment into transport infrastructure.

Contents

[edit] History

A photo of a typical highway built during Communism and taken in 1998.

During World War I, occupying forces opened up new road sections mainly in the mountainous areas of the country. In King Zog's period, further road construction took place. The total length of Albania's roads more than doubled in the first three decades after World War II, and by the 1980s almost all of the country's remote mountain areas were connected, at least by dirt roads, with the capital city of Tirana and ports on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. Private ownership was not allowed and the only vehicles circulating were trucks, agricultural and government vehicles, buses, motorcycles, and bicycles. The country's roads, however, were generally narrow, poorly marked, pocked with holes, and in the early 1990s often crowded with pedestrians and people riding mules, bicycles, and horse-drawn carts.

[edit] Railway

After 1947, a significant infrastructure undertaking was the construction of the country's rail network as Albania was considered as the only state in Europe not to have standard rail service.[1] By 1987, 677 km of railway were constructed in total linking the main urban and industrial centers for the first time since the end of World War II. After the collapse of Communism, the network fell into disregard.

[edit] After Communism

Mercedes Benz is the brand of choice in Albania.

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 of Greek construction 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-Greek border to Durrës. The project was scheduled to last four years and cost US$500 million.[citation needed] 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.

In 1991 the Albanian government lifted the decades-old ban on private-vehicle ownership. In the early 1990s 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 Mercedes Benz vehicles stemming from their durability on the inherited roads, the rough rural roads where half of the population resides, personal preferences, and the cheap price for buying used ones. Albania is probably one of the few, if not the only country in Europe where vehicles imported from the United States, and from left hand traffic jurisdictions (for example the United Kingdom) can be found on the streets without any modifications brought from expats living abroad.

Since the beginning of the transition, foreign donors have funded no less than ten urban transport plans and studies for Tirana, prepared mainly by foreign consultants (in some cases invited by the City, in others hired directly by the donor organization). In most cases, the principal recommendation of these studies was to strengthen the public transport sector.[2]

[edit] Highways

Speed limits in Albania
Rrogozhinë-Lushnjë segment of SH4 Highway
Recently built and only motorway in Albania, the A1.
Many highways are undergoing continuous reconstruction following the fall of Communism.
Routine police checks on the SH1 Highway
Recently, new road signs similar to the Italian design have been installed throughout the country.
  • Total: 18,000 km
    • Paved: 12,920 km
    • Unpaved: 5,080 km (2002 est.) [3]


country comparison to the world: 118

Since the fall of communism, Albania is gradually upgrading its main roadways to acceptable standards.[4] Compared to the 1990s, road infrastructure has significantly improved,[5] however national roads are partially up to European standards being under continuous reconstruction. Albania has only one motorway, the A1 stretching from Rreshen to Kalimash along SH30. Some roadways lack standards to be considered motorways such as unfinished overpasses, roundabouts on highways, uncontrolled access points, some inadequate entrance and exit ramps, and very narrow or lack of emergency lanes. Furthermore unclear road signage, lack of lighting at night, indiscriminate usage of highways by agricultural and animal driven vehicles, and poor driver/pedestrian discipline make for a challenging driving. Rural segments are in bad conditions while national roads suffer from the above handicaps. On recent years as construction work is underway on major roadways, extra caution and patience is required from motorists.[6][7]Inconveniences such as detours, sudden stops, and abrupt ends to paved surfaces with little prior notice can be expected. In recent years, traffic fatalities have increased especially during holiday periods as traffic flow doubles mainly with expats returning home. Some experts attribute the increase to the use of alcohol, excessive speed, unqualified drivers, and unaccustomed users of Albanian roads such are expats. Police patrols have been deployed and speed radars installed on major roadways. Albanian drivers are prone to using visual and acoustic aids such as headlight flashing, constant use of high beams at night, and honking on a regular basis. Daytime running lamps must be turned on outside urban areas.

In Albania, roads are generally classified as follows:

  • Rrugë : The lowest level of road type found in urban and rural areas. These segments are marked with a "Rr #" on a blue field or as "Rruga" on a white field in urban areas.
  • Superstradë: Single carriageway (1x1) marked with "SH #" on a blue field.
  • Autostradë: Double carriageway (2x2) usually marked with "A #" on a green field, though the "SH #" signage is also used.

Major cities are linked with first class national roads called (Superstradë). There is a double carriageway (Autostradë) connecting the port city of Durrës with Tirana, Vlorë, and Kukës. The major priority at present is the completion of the Tirana-Elbasan Motorway (2x2) including the construction of a tunnel. Similarly, another major project, Durrës-Kukes Motorway (A1) involved the construction of a 5.6 km tunnel. The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece[8] (known as Rruga e Arbërit) passing north east of Tirana to current SH6. The third priority is the construction of the Southern Axis of Albania that would pass across the central and southern part of the country; it is sometimes referred to as Boshti i Jugut. It is unclear whether the envisioned Adriatic-Ionian motorway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts will pass through the Southern Axis or current SH4 Road.

When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors. In October 2010, prime minister Sali Berisha announced plans to build several major highways.[9] In 2010, the Albanian government received 50 million Euros from the EBRD for the reconstruction of rural roads. The latter have been lagging behind in the post-communist road reconstruction campaigns.

[edit] Major Routes

  • Autostrada A1 Italia.svg A1 Motorway (Rrëshen - Kalimash)
  • Autostrada A2 Italia.svg A2 Motorway (Tirana - Tepelena) planned
  • SH1-AL.svg SH1 Road (Tirana - Hani i Hotit MNE)
  • SH2-AL.svg SH2 Road (Tirana - Durrës)
  • SH3-AL.svg SH3 Road (Tirana - Elbasan - Pogradec - Korcë - Kapshticë GR)
  • SH4-AL.svg SH4 Road (Durrës - Fier - Gjirokastër - Kakavijë GR)
  • SH5-AL.svg SH5 Road (Shkodër - Pukë - Kukës RKS)
  • SH6-AL.svg SH6 Road (Milot - Bulqizë - Peshkopi)
  • SH7-AL.svg SH7 Road (Rrogozhinë - Elbasan)
  • SH8-AL.svg SH8 Road (Fier - Vlorë - Saranda)
  • SH9-AL.svg SH9 Road (Qafë Thanë/Kjafasan MK - SH3)
  • SH30 Road (Milot - Rrëshen; Kalimash - Morinë RKS)
  • SH52 Road (Vlorë - Fushë Krujë)
  • SH72 Road (Lushnjë - Berat)
  • SH75 Road (SH4 - Ersekë - Korcë)

[edit] Highway Sections Under Construction

[edit] As of 2011

[edit] 2006-2010

[edit] International Routes

In 2006, Albania joined the E-road cooperation but did not ratify the AGR (European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries) treaty.[10] As such, Albania is the only country in Europe not being part of the E-road network. For orientation purposes, the following routes only formally pass through the country. Thus information in parentheses is tentative:

[edit] Minibuses

Public transport in Albania is mainly characterized by the use of furgons, the equivalent of minibuses, vans or shuttles, though bus transport is also available. Tirana, the capital city does not have a central bus station. Thus, minibuses and buses depart from various places around the city. Prices can be negotiated with the driver before departing. A similar situation is also observed in other towns.

[edit] Railways

HSH train along the Durres-Tirane line
Main article: Rail transport in Albania
See also: Hekurudha Shqiptare

Total: 447 km
country comparison to the world: 120

Standard gauge: 447 km 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) gauge (2006)

Railway links with neighbouring countries:

[edit] Waterways

Albania's main seaports are Durrës, Vlorë, Sarandë, and Shëngjin. By 1983 there was regular ferry, freight, and passenger services from Durrës to Trieste, Italy. In 1988 ferry service was established between Sarandë and the Greek island of Corfu. A regular lake ferry linked the Macedonian town of Ohrid with Pogradec. The estimated total displacement of Albania's merchant fleet was 56,000 tons in 1986. The limited capacity of the wharves at Durrës caused severe bottlenecks in the distribution of foreign food aid in 1991. As of 2011, the Port of Durres is undergoing major renovations.

Ferry services within Albania are:

[edit] Pipelines

Crude oil 207 km; natural gas 229 km (2008)

The construction of 1.2 billion dollar AMBO pipeline will begin in 2007. This will 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.

[edit] Ports and Harbors

Albanian ports and marinas
Port
 County Coordinates
 External
Link
Port of Durrës Durrës County 41°18′35″N 19°27′26″E / 41.30972°N 19.45722°E / 41.30972; 19.45722 www.apdurres.com.al
Port of Sarandë Vlorë County 39°52′15″N 20°0′11″E / 39.87083°N 20.00306°E / 39.87083; 20.00306 www.portisarande.com.al
Port of Shëngjin Lezhë County 41°48′20″N 19°35′35″E / 41.80556°N 19.59306°E / 41.80556; 19.59306 www.portofshengjin.com
Port of Vlorë Vlorë County 40°27′1″N 19°29′0″E / 40.45028°N 19.483333°E / 40.45028; 19.483333 portivlore.com (Archived version)
Marina of Orikum Vlorë County 40°20′25″N 19°28′20″E / 40.34028°N 19.47222°E / 40.34028; 19.47222 www.orikum.it
Port of Himarë Vlorë County 40°5′52″N 19°45′10″E / 40.09778°N 19.75278°E / 40.09778; 19.75278

[edit] Merchant Marine

  • Total: 24


country comparison to the world: 91

Albania Statistics for the shipping industry of Albania
Total: 7 ships (1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over)
Totalling: 13,423 GRT/20,837 metric tons deadweight (DWT)
Cargo ships
Cargo ship 7
Tankers
Passenger ships
Source: This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.

[edit] Airways

In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece, opening the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, Olympic Airways was the first non-communist airline to fly into Albania. By 1991 Tirana had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, Zürich, Vienna, and Budapest. Tirana was served by a small airport, Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, located twenty-eight kilometers from the capital at the village of Rinas. Albania had no regular domestic air service. A Franco-Albanian joint venture launched Albania's first private airline, Ada Air, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and Bari, Italy, and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.

As of 2007 Albania has only one international airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. In December 2007 it served over 1 million passengers and had 43 landings and takeoffs per day.

[edit] Airports

Albania's only international hub, Tirana International Airport
Main article: List of airports in Albania
  • Total: 8 (2008)


country comparison to the world: 164

A number of regional airports have been renovated but cannot become functional for civil flights as per the over 20 years monopoly over Albanian airspace that holds Tirana International Airport's shareholder company since 2005. Negotiations have been ongoing to revise the contract terms and open airports for both domestic and external flights earlier than the above time frame.

Kukes Airport is expected to open in early 2008, making this the second civilian airport in Albania. A local news paper announced on March 16, 2007 that the Italian government would help rebuild the airport in Gjirokaster. The airport would be dual functional, both a civilian and military airport. The first phase of construction is expected to start in September 2007. Currently there are two feasibility studies being conducted for airports in Vlora and Korca. The plan for Saranda airport was completed however there is no known investor willing to put in money at the time.

[edit] Total paved runways

3

Gjader/Gramsh

  • RWY 16 APPR 151°/RWY 34 APPR 331° Length 2800 m x 60 m
  • RWY 17 APPR 167°/RWY 35 APPR 347° Length 2200 m x 25 m

Kucova

  • RWY 14 APPR 134°/RWY 32 APPR 314° Length 2840 m x 65 m

Kukes

  • RWY 19 APPR 192°/RWY 01 APPR 012° Length 1800 m x 45 m

Tirana/Rinas

  • RWY 18 APPR 176°/RWY 36 APPR 356° Length 2750 m x 45 m

[edit] Total unpaved runways

    • total: 5 (2008)
    • over 3,047 m: 1
    • 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
    • 914 to 1,523 m: 1
    • under 914 m: 1

[edit] Heliports

  • Total: 1 (2007)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hekurudha Shqiptare
  2. ^ http://www.corp.at/archive/CORP2010_14.pdf
  3. ^ http://www.pd.al/arritjet/investimet-publike/
  4. ^ http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTALBANIA/Resources/Albania_National_Transport_Plan.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/strategjia_sektoriale_e_transportit_165_1.pdf
  6. ^ http://www.globalbispartners.com/uploads/albanian_infrastructre_today.pdf
  7. ^ http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/IntOrg/ecmt/southeast/TIRS/TIRSann04.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.corridor8.org/atti_convegno_tirana/yllka_zaloshnja.pdf
  9. ^ "Business: Albania to focus on new roads (SETimes.com)". 2010-10-15. http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2010/10/15/roundup-bs-04. Retrieved 2010-10-16. 
  10. ^ UNECE Road Transport Information System - Albania

[edit] External links

[edit] Government

[edit] Informational

[edit] See also

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 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2006 edition".
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