A2 (Albania)

The A2 motorway (Albanian: Autostrada or Autostradë 2) is a motorway in Albania spanning 46.5 kilometres (28.89 miles) across the counties of Fier and Vlorë.

A2 motorway shield}}
A2 motorway
Autostradë A2
The A2 runs across the counties of Fier and Vlorë.
Map of the Autostrada 2 (A2) mainline denoted in dark green in Albania
Route information
Maintained by the Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar
Length46.5 km (28.9 mi)
Major junctions
North end Bypass of Fier
South end Bypass of Vlorë (Under construction)
Location
CountryAlbania
Counties
Major cities
Highway system

As it connects Fier, the sixth largest city, to maritime Vlorë, the third largest city in the country and largest city in southern Albania, the motorway represents a major north–south transportation corridor and a significant part of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway.[1] The A2 is also the starting point of the Pan-European Corridor VIII. The motorway consists of two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each driving direction separated by a central reservation. National significance of the motorway is reflected through its positive economic impact on the cities and towns it connects as well as its importance to tourism in Albania.

The A2 motorway has dramatically alleviated congestion on the adjacent National Road 8 (SH8) in the summer season by allowing faster travel time to Adriatic seaside resorts along the Vlora seaside, and further south to the Albanian Riviera. At Levan near Fier the motorway links with the newly built SH4 single carriageway to Greece through Tepelenë and Gjirokastër. The total construction cost for the motorway amounted to 60 million euros as the project underwent changes to accommodate for the rising levels of Vjosa River.

Overview

The preceding National Road 4 (SH4) at the northern edge stretching between Durrës, Kavajë, Lushnjë, and Fier has undergone widening to dual carriageway standards, and will be linked with A2 through the Fier Bypass.[2][3] On 3 February 2015, the Government of Albania received funding for the Vlorë Bypass linking A2 with coastal National Road 8 (SH8) along the Albanian Riviera.[4][5]

It was expected to start around 2015 and be completed in 2016 or early 2017, stretching from the southern end of A2 to Orikum. However, the winning firm Serenissima declared bankruptcy and the Albanian government was obliged to scrap the contract and reopen the bid for both the Fier and Vlora Bypasses. Construction work on the Fier Bypass is set to resume in the fall of 2018.[6] The Fier Bypass was opened on 15 June 2020, and Vlore Bypass on 16 July 2021.[7]

  • A2 seen from the air near Vjose-Narta Lagoon Protected Area
    A2 seen from the air near Vjose-Narta Lagoon Protected Area
  • SH4 towards Tepelene which links with A2 at Levan
    SH4 towards Tepelene which links with A2 at Levan
  • SH4 Highway towards Fier linking with A2 through the Fier Bypass
    SH4 Highway towards Fier linking with A2 through the Fier Bypass

See also

References
  1. "MINISTRI OLLDASHI: NË FUND TË MUAJIT PRILL HAPEN PËR TRAFIKUN 16 KM E AUTOSTRADËS LEVAN - VLORË, PËRPARA SEZONIT TURISTIK SYNOJMË HAPJEN TËRËSISHT TË SAJ". archive.is (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Në fund të muajit Prill, pritet të hapen për trafikun 16 km e autostradës Levan-Vlorë, konkretisht segmenti nga Novolesa deri në hyrje të qytetit të Vlorës.
  2. "Fier-Levan (Albania)". serenissimacostruzioni.it. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-07-29. The total development of the new arterial road is around 22,100m.
  3. "BYPASS-I FIERIT". arrsh.gov.al (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 2017-03-15. Retrieved 2017-03-15. Projekti i referohet ndertimit te nje bypass-i rrugor te te tipit autostrade interurbane midis qytetit te Fierit dhe Levanit (Bypass-i i Fierit) me gjatesi afersisht 22 km, me vlere prej 60 milion Euro financuar nga BERZH dhe BEI.
  4. "Fier and Vlore bypass roads". ebrd.com. The project involves co-financing, with the European Investment Bank (EIB), of the construction of a 22km bypass of the city of Fier and a 29km bypass of the city of Vlore in south-western Albania. The two bypasses are key sections of the national road network in Albania and will connect important roads previously co-financed by the EBRD and EIB (such as the Levan-Tepelene and Levan-Vlore roads).
  5. "BYPASS-I VLORES". arrsh.gov.al (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-21. Gjatesia e ketij aksi eshte 29 km dhe fillon qe nga Rrethrotullimi ne fund te autostrades Levan Vlore.
  6. "Albanian government borrows another 17 million Euros for the Vlora Bypass". balkaneu.com. 3 February 2015. The project is expected to be finalized in March 2017.
  7. "Hapet më në fund Bypassi i Fierit, zhbllokohet qarkullimi për shoferët". 15 June 2020.

Media related to Autostradë A2 at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.