Road construction, endless debate in Kosovo

Lusaj says the citizens of Kline, Istog, Peja, Decani, Yunik and Gjakova face difficult transport due to damaged roads and the failure to define road projects.

Lack of modern road infrastructure for this part of Kosovo, according to him, causes losses and does not allow businesses to develop.

And even though they've started it, there's still work in half that they're really hindering the development of free communication, especially the Gjakova Street, which regrets getting through. The same has remained the Pristina route: Peja”, Lusaj says. Poor infrastructure, according to Lusaj, has left these municipalities without investments.

“Invesions can also be influenced by these roads because investors are more likely to invest in the part where good roads are, good circulation”, says Lusaj.

In September of this year at a joint meeting, the Government of Kosovo and North Macedonia signed several agreements, including the agreement on building a road linking Prizren and Tetovo.

Construction of this road for which feasibility studies have already been conducted is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

The cost of the project, which included a tunnel about 6km long, is expected to be around 150m euros and is designed to build mainly with funds from abroad, says Radio Free Europe, Deputy Environment Minister, Space Planning and Infrastructure Hysen Durmish.

“We will aim to provide funds for the entire project, and if we apply together as two states we are more likely to provide funds but we have developed it as a project of particular importance that even if we don't fully secure the funds, some of it will be secured from the state budget”, Patience said.

Durmish says there is no need to raise any concern in Kosovo, as the construction of the Prizren Street Tetovo does not stop any other infrastructure project.

He says the government is dealing intensively with previously launched projects, since according to him, modernising road infrastructure is a priority of the government.

We have not halted any important projects within Kosovo's territory in order to realise the Prizren-Tetovo project. We are continuing all contracts; the route to Podujevo, the Mitrovica road, the Pec road, where we have stopped the expropriation process, but that we have stopped building the” road, says Durmish.

In addition to opening new corridors, Strategic Management Professor Halim Gjerzi says the government should step up efforts to complete projects that have been left in half.

These roads, however, have started and must be built and the reasons why they are not finalised are our manageable weaknesses. It should be insisted that they be finalised but not now shut down and wait until the others have opened up, opened corridors, built modern streets”, Gjergjiz says.

Gjergjiz disclosed that the Prizren '%s Tetovo road project existed before the 1990s, but says it has not been impressed because of the political circumstances of the time.

Former Infrastructure Minister Pal Lekaj is critical of government decisions. He thinks projects that integrate citizens and businesses from the municipality of Kline, Istog, Peja, Decani, Yunik and Gjakova with other parts of Kosovo should be carried out at first.

Lekaj says giving up the Dukagjin Highway project is due to the biggest mistakes of this government.

Let's split 150m euros for the road that leads to Tetovo, all right with these connections, but I think it's a rush until they have prevented other projects. My conclusion is that this Government is willing to influence more at this time in electorates than in development of infrastructure or economy”, Lekaj says.

Prizren Path Tetovo Strengthens Both Countries' Economy

But unlike those allegations raised in Kosovo on the impact of this project in northern Macedonia, they think the Prizren-Tetovo road is of great economic importance.

Economy expert Arben Halili says that in addition to the national aspect, the opening of Prizren-Tetovo Street in an economic way facilitates access to the Albanian market in Albania.

“will enable the easiest exchange of goods and services and will simultaneously serve as a transitary route that will connect the most”, Halili says.

Halili says he hopes the North Macedonia government will have the will to implement this project.

I wish that Tetovo-Prizren Street would not have the same fate as it does in Skopje's road to Pristina from the part of Northern Macedonia, but considering that it has to do with the annual project, I believe intergovernmental co-operation would be at the right level and all this would be in the interest of economic development of both countries and not serve as a transitary route and countries in the region”, Halili says.

The Prizren road Tetovo according to plans is expected to be about 50 kilometers long.
This will be a joint project between Kosovo and North Macedonia.

Kosovo with Northern Macedonia has the main road link through the “Arba Xhaferi” highway connecting Pristina and Skopje. The length of this highway is about 60km, and more than 600m euros have been spent for construction from Kosovo's budget.