How Improving Roads Creates Real Impact for Communities Across Albania

Albania's road network, spanning 15,000 kilometers, serves as a lifeline for communities, facilitating trade, access to services, and connectivity. Yet lack of funding left many rural roads as well as regional routes outside of the national highway system in disrepair, threatening public safety and impeding economic activity. For years, many remote villages faced isolation because of such dilapidated roadways.

“There was a one-way bridge here that was destroyed by floods. The old bridge caused kilometers-long car queues. Farmers, laden with produce, couldn't cross and had to wait two or three hours to get home. Cattle crossing was also impossible,” recalled Feruze Vushi, resident of Darëzezë e Re village.  

Recognizing the need for action, Albania, in partnership with the World Bank, initiated the Regional and Local Roads Connectivity Project in 2018, which helped support the extensive rehabilitation of nine regional and rural roads spanning eight municipalities. 

Central to this project was active community engagement and participation. The Albanian Development Fund, the project’s implementing agency, sought to ensure that local voices were heard throughout the planning and designing process—an inclusive approach that helped tailor rehabilitation to specific community needs. Not only did this help enhance safety, accessibility, and climate resilience, but it also fostered a sense of real ownership and pride among residents.  

Neki Tafa, head of Darëzezë e Re village advocated for features like dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists that have helped transform the community: "The new bridge has made it easier for us to access fields and farmland, and for children to walk safely to school. And after all these investments, there are several cases of people moving in from the city to rent here."

Revitalizing Agriculture, Unlocking Tourism Potential 

Revitalizing Albania's rural road network has breathed new life into the agricultural sector, enabling farmers to better access markets and processing centers as well as reducing spoilage. 

Along segments like Pogradec-Tushemisht, Roskovec-Poshnje, Fier-Seman, Bence-Lekdush, Gusmar-Kuç  and Nivice-Progonat, better connectivity has spurred agricultural trade, reduced transportation costs, boosted farmers' incomes, and stimulated local economies. In Kuç village, Qazim Balili, the owner of a fish farm, reflected on the difference these investments have made: "Now the new road saves me time and money, while guardrails and road signage make driving safer.” 

These bucolic communities—central to Albania's natural beauty and cultural heritage—are now more accessible, helping to open new opportunities and jobs in tourism and hospitality. 2023 marked an unprecedented boom for the country’s tourism sector, with more than 10 million visitors in a country of roughly 2.8 million inhabitants. Tourist hotspots like Theth, Tushemisht, Nivice, Kuç, Spille and Golem have experienced a surge in visitor numbers, which is boosting local economies and private sector initiatives. And emerging attractions like the National Park of Theth, Vlora River Valley, as well as waterfalls, canyons, castles and caves in Kuç, Nivice, and Kurvelesh, have attracted flocks of would-be adventurers to explore scenic landscapes, leading to increased demand for local services and accommodations—all contributing to job creation and economic diversification.

All this activity, both in tourism and the improved infrastructure, is also helping attract and catalyze private sector investment that will promote more sustainable, resilient growth in Albania. As Fatmir Berishta, owner of a guesthouse who built the first zipline in Theth remarked, "Many emigrants are coming back to invest. People have repurposed homes into hostels and hotels. And new private initiatives are complimenting the tourist offerings, making our area more diverse and entertaining."

Transformative Impact

Rebuilding and restoring Albania's road network has yielded immediate, tangible results. From increased property values to job creation and business expansion, the ripple effects of improved connectivity are evident across Albania. Travel times were slashed by an average of 30%, and as high as 75% in some segments leading to mountainous villages.  

The success of Albania's road rehabilitation initiative underscores the profound impact such infrastructure development has on community livelihoods. By prioritizing connectivity through strategic investments, Albania is truly paving the way for sustainable economic growth and inclusive development.