Mediterranean Corridor (Road R1, R2): Construction of Adriatic-Ionian Highway in Albania and Montenegro

he Adriatic-Ionian Highway is a strategic project the Balkans as well as the entire Southeast Europe. Its completion will connect Central Europe and Northern Italy with Ionian peninsula via Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Greece. The Adriatic-Ionian Highway stretches along the coast of the Adriaticand Ionian Seas, from Trieste in Italy to Kalamata in Greece. The estimated length of the Highway is about 1,550 km.

The Adriatic – Ionian Highway/expressway is included on indicative extension of the TEN-T Core Network (PMs WB6 Joint Statement, Brussels, April, 2015) based on the SEETO comprehensive network which encompasses the Croatian border-Bar-the Albanian Border through Montenegro territory (Route 1) and the Albanian North-South Road Corridor linking the Montenegro Border with the Greek Border, through Albanian territory (Route 2). Existing roads on the coast has been designed and built in the 1960s. In the past fifty years traffic volume has increased significantly mainly due to the five towns becoming tourist attractions. As a result the route suffers from heavy congestions. 

The WBIF awarded a €3,500,000 EU grant for the preparation of the feasibility study and associated designs for both routes in December 2015. The study is ongoing. 

Expected benefits of the project include:

• better connections with neighbouring countries;
• reduced congestion, fuel consumption, emissions and noise levels;
• increased road safety levels; and
• economic development, particularly in the tourism sector.