SECTION OPENS TO TRAFFIC
A new 7.5-kilometre section of Corridor VIII opened to traffic on 7 August 2026 as part of the project to expand the Elbasan–Qafë Thanë road.
According to an announcement by Infrastructure and Energy Minister Ena Karakaçi, the opened stretch begins at the exit of Labinot-Fushë and continues to roughly 500 metres beyond the village of Mirakë. Vehicles can use two-way traffic lanes, with one lane operating in each direction.
WHAT CHANGES FOR ROAD USERS
The opening moves traffic onto a completed part of the route while the wider Elbasan–Qafë Thanë project continues. The ministry said the section is intended to improve traffic flow and safety while reducing travel time for passengers and freight transport.
The public announcement did not provide a measured time saving, a standalone cost for this section or a completion date for the entire route. Those details are therefore not presented here as confirmed facts.
WHY THE ROUTE MATTERS
The Elbasan–Qafë Thanë road forms the eastern part of Corridor VIII in Albania, linking the Elbasan area with the route towards the North Macedonian border. Its improvement matters both for everyday domestic journeys and for the regional movement of people and goods.
REPORTING BASIS
ON MEDIA.AL wrote this article from scratch using the Infrastructure and Energy Minister’s announcement, as reported by RTSH on 7 August 2026. The location, length and traffic configuration of the new section are attributed to that official announcement.
