A3 (Albania)

The A3 motorway (Albanian: Autostrada or Autostradë A3) is a motorway in Albania spanning 31.17 kilometres (19.37 miles) across the counties of Elbasan and Tirana. It consists of two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each driving direction, except in tunnels where there are emergency bays instead, separated by a central reservation.

A3 motorway shield}}
A3 motorway
Autostradë A3
The A3 runs across the counties of Elbasan and Tirana.
Map of the Autostrada 3 (A3) mainline denoted in dark green in Albania
Route information
Part of E852
Maintained by the Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar
Length31.17 km (19.37 mi)
Major junctions
Northwest end in Sauk, Tirana County
Southeast end in Bradashesh, Elbasan County
Location
CountryAlbania
Counties
Major cities
Highway system

After its completion in the summer of 2019, the motorway connects the country's capital city Tirana with the Pan-European Corridor VIII on the SH7, which connects Durrës on the Adriatic Sea to Varna on the Black Sea. As a part of the road network of Albania, the motorway is a part of a major European route, the E852.

Description

Tirana–Elbasan section

The motorway starts at the TEG Shopping Center interchange connection with Tirana's Outer Ring in Lundër near Sauk south of the Grand Park of Tirana, and follows a route parallel to the National Road 3 (SH3) on the Erzen Valley until the village of Krrabë. Close to the border between the counties of Tirana and Elbasan, the motorway passes along the Krraba tunnel. Passing the tunnel, the highway continues within the Kusha Valley towards Elbasan, where it meets the SH3 again at Bradashesh where the motorway ends.

According to the former Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Sokol Olldashi, the construction of the Tirana bypass or outer ring began in March 2011.[1] On 29 April 2011, the construction work on the Krrabë tunnel started and was finalized in March 2013. The end of construction for the entire route from Tirana to Elbasan was projected for June 2013 (18 months construction time), however a hill collapse near Ibe further delayed completion due to inadequate geological feasibility studies. The highway was only completed in the summer of 2019.

The total cost of the motorway amounted to 440 million euros.[2] The funding was partially taken over by the Islamic Development Bank.[3]

The motorway contains 21 viaducts and 2 tunnels, each with a length of 2.3 km (1.4 mi).

Berat–Tepelena section

In the long run, a further expansion of the highway to Berat and Tepelenë is planned.[4]

  • A3 northbound towards Tirana
    A3 northbound towards Tirana
  • Krraba tunnel during construction.
    Krraba tunnel during construction.

See also

References
  1. "Olldashi: Projekti i Qeverisë, i njëjtë me atë të Bashkisë - Top Channel". Top-channel.tv. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. "Hapen ofertat ekonomike për autostradën Tiranë-Elbasan". Archived from the original on 4 March 2011.
  3. "Islamic Development Bank approves USD 511 million for Mega proje". Steelguru.com. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  4. "Prezantohet projekti teknik i autostradës Tiranë - Elbasan". Mppt.gov.al. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

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