Building of Kosovo's Longest Highway Begins

The new highway is expected to connect the towns of Istog-Peee ão Decan- Gjakova and Prizren, so it is also known as “The Dukatstrada”.

It is estimated to be among the longest highways on Kosovo territory, with 91km.

The project has already started preparations and is said to be realised according to the criteria and higher standards, respecting the parameters of modern highways in Europe.

Rexhep Kadriu, deputy minister of Infrastructure in the Government of Kosovo, tells Radio Free Europe that public debates with citizens of municipalities across the highway are expected by June.

At the end of the year, however, it is expected to begin construction work.

It shows that the estimated value of this project will reach up to one billion euros, including the necessary expropriations -- worth, which, according to Kadriut, is expected to be exploited by Kosovo's budget, without borrowing.

“Autostrada Arba Xhaferi) (Pristina/Pristina highway) soon ends, Gnjilan has no large financial cost. So the concentration of the budget of the Republic of Kosovo will be on the Dukagjin highway”, Kadriu says.

Currently, the construction highway is Pristina highway HINA koncul, connecting Kosovo with southern Serbia, respectively, with the Presevo Valley. Work on the 226 - mile - long [2.6 km] highway has begun in the month of April last year, while the duration of the implementation is 30 months. About 87m euros are estimated to cost the budget this highway.

Meanwhile, the Pristina highway '% Hani of Elez, connecting Kosovo with Macedonia, dubbed “Arba Xhaferi”, was presumption to end at the end of 2018. But it has not yet ended, already exceeding the previous deadlines.

The first highway built in Kosovo was the one that connects Kosovo with Albania, called the “Road of the Nation Ibrahim Rugova”.

On the other hand, experts in this area estimate that despite the need and importance of a country's developed road infrastructure, Kosovo has had to focus on other priorities.

Haliim Gjergjiz, professor at the “Dagnia” College in Pristina, tells Radio Free Europe that in the absence of preparing concrete projects that contribute to improving the social welfare of citizens, the Government is directing the ready budget tools to road infrastructure.

The “Autostradas more have a political background, is being built for Gjilan, will now be built for Dukagjin and political requirements will arise in the future. But Kosovo society at the moment has other priorities besides building the” highways.

“even though I basically say they create preconditions for economic development, they are needed in conditions and at a time when Kosovo society will be more comfortable in terms of investments. The competent authorities have not made sufficient efforts to investigate alternative sources for investment in infrastructure”, Gjergjiz estimates.

Road infrastructure, mostly dominated investments in Kosovo in recent years. In addition to highways, large investments have also focused on building local and magical roads. The largest percentage of Kosovo's budget is usually divided precisely for highway construction.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, meanwhile, has said that by 2023 no Kosovo city will remain without highway connections.