Rreshen Kalimash Motorway project is the largest public contract ever signed in Albania.
Undertaken by ENKA and Bechtel in September 2006 the Rrëshen -Kalimash Motorway Project is a key connection between Durres Port, Albania’s primary harbour on the Adriatic Sea, and Kosovo.
The 61 kilometres motorway crosses the mountainous northern region of Albania, linking the cities of Rrëshen and Kalimash, and is divided into three sections. The designers of Sections 1 and 3 are Scetauroute (France) and Italconsult (Italy) was of the Section 2. The Section 1 is an 18 km long stretch from Rrëshen to Reps, section 2 is 27 km long and travels from Reps to Thirra, 15 km long the section 3 connects Thirra and Kolshi. The construction included a 5.5 kilometres long double bore tunnel at Mount Runes, at an altitude of 1,858 m.
In addition to the many economic and social benefits, the motorway made transportation duration between Tirana and Kosovo border reduce from 8 hours to 3 hours.