List of bridges in Albania

In this article, we will explore the topic of List of bridges in Albania in detail, analyzing its different aspects, impacts and perspectives. List of bridges in Albania has been the subject of interest and controversy in recent times, and its relevance continues to grow in different areas. Throughout these pages, we will delve into its history, evolution and consequences, as well as the opinions and debates it has sparked. From a multidisciplinary approach, we will approach List of bridges in Albania from various perspectives, trying to shed light on its implications and meanings. In short, this article aims to offer a broad and rigorous vision of List of bridges in Albania, with the purpose of enriching knowledge and debate around this topic.

There are hundreds of bridges and bridge ruins found throughout Albania. A total of 90 have achieved the status of monument of cultural heritage.[1] The oldest standing bridge in the country is the Kauri Bridge[citation needed], located in the village of Poshnjë, it dates back to the late antiquity.

The longest spanning bridge is the Shushica Bridge (520 m)[citation needed], it crosses the Devoll river as a segment of the Banjë-Gramsh road. The two highest bridges in the country are the Fshat Bridge and the Vasha Bridge, respectively 157 m (515 ft) and 152 m (499 ft) high.[2] They are part of the important Arbër Road project which aims to connect the central region of the country with the western border of North Macedonia in a much shorter period than the old route.

Historical and architectural interest bridges

Only 72 bridges built during the Ottoman period have survived.[1]

Name Albanian Distinction Length Type Carries
Crosses 		Opened Location County Ref.
1 Kasabashit Bridge Ura e Kasabashit Cultural Monument 26 m (85 ft) Masonry
1 pointed arch
Footbridge
Vlosh
1640 Çorovodë
40°30′56.3″N 20°14′34.6″E / 40.515639°N 20.242944°E / 40.515639; 20.242944 (Kasabashit Bridge)		 Berat County [3]
2 Vizier Bridge
submerged		 Ura e Vezirit Masonry
Footbridge
Drin (river)
 17th century Kukës
 Kukës County [4]
[5]
3 Kamares Bridge Ura e Kamares Cultural Monument 40 m (130 ft) Masonry
2 segmental arches
Footbridge
Shkumbin
 1715 Mirakë
41°10′14.0″N 20°15′43.7″E / 41.170556°N 20.262139°E / 41.170556; 20.262139 (Kamares Bridge)		 Elbasan County [6]
4 Mesi Bridge Ura e Mesit Span : 21.5 m (71 ft)
Cultural Monument		 130 m (430 ft) Masonry
13 semi-circular arches
Footbridge
Kir (river)
 1768 Mes
42°06′52.1″N 19°34′30.2″E / 42.114472°N 19.575056°E / 42.114472; 19.575056 (Mesi Bridge)		 Shkodër County [S 1]
[7]
5 Bahçallëk Bridge
destroyed in 1880		 Ura e Bahçallëkut Masonry
5 semi-circular arches

Drin (river)
 1768 Shkodër
42°02′32.6″N 19°29′34.5″E / 42.042389°N 19.492917°E / 42.042389; 19.492917 (Bahçëllëk Bridge)		 Shkodër County [8]
[9]
6 Gorica Bridge Ura e Goricës Historic Centre of Berat
World Heritage Site
Cultural Monument		 129 m (423 ft) Masonry
7 semi-circular arches
Former road bridge
Osum
 1780 Berat
40°42′11.5″N 19°56′40.7″E / 40.703194°N 19.944639°E / 40.703194; 19.944639 (Gorica Bridge)		 Berat County [S 2]
[10]
7 Kadiu Bridge Ura e Katiut Cultural Monument 30 m (98 ft) Masonry
1 pointed arch
Footbridge
Lengaricë
 18th century Bënjë-Novoselë
40°14′39.8″N 20°25′57.0″E / 40.244389°N 20.432500°E / 40.244389; 20.432500 (Kadiu Bridge)		 Gjirokastër County [11]
8 Tanners' Bridge Ura e Tabakëve Cultural Monument Masonry
2 semi-circular arches
Footbridge
Former Lanë
 18th century Tirana
41°19′35.1″N 19°49′33.8″E / 41.326417°N 19.826056°E / 41.326417; 19.826056 (Tanners' Bridge)		 Tirana County [S 3]
[12]
9 Vasha Bridge (18th century) Ura e Vashës 11 m (36 ft) Masonry
1 semi-circular arch
Footbridge
Mat (river)
 18th century Klos
41°28′03.1″N 20°06′16.4″E / 41.467528°N 20.104556°E / 41.467528; 20.104556 (Vasha Bridge (18th century))		 Dibër County [13]
10 Kordhocë bridge Ura e Kordhocës Masonry
5 arches (4 semi-circular and 1 segmental)
Footbridge
Drino
 1820 Kordhocë
40°03′39.8″N 20°10′24.2″E / 40.061056°N 20.173389°E / 40.061056; 20.173389 (Kordhocë bridge)		 Gjirokastër County [14]
11 Beçishtit Bridge Ura e Beçishtit 260 m (850 ft) Suspension
Steel, masonry piers
Footbridge
Vjosa
 20th century Tepelenë
40°17′51.8″N 20°01′26.3″E / 40.297722°N 20.023972°E / 40.297722; 20.023972 (Beçishtit Bridge)		 Gjirokastër County [15]
12 Bushtrica Bridge Ura e Bushtricës Highest railway bridge in Albania
Height : 48 m (157 ft)		 255 m (837 ft) Beam bridge
Prestressed concrete
Rrogozhinë–Pogradec railway
Shkumbini
 1973 Prrenjas
41°05′55.4″N 20°26′35.7″E / 41.098722°N 20.443250°E / 41.098722; 20.443250 (Bushtrica Bridge)		 Elbasan County [S 4]


Major road and railway bridges

Name Albanian Span Length Type Carries
Crosses 		Opened Location County Ref.
1 Drini Bridge Ura e Drinit 270 m (890 ft) 310 m (1,020 ft) Arch
Steel tied arch
Bow-string bridge
National road SH75
Future A1 Durrës-Kukës Highway
European route E851
Black Drin
 2021 Kukës
42°04′27.9″N 20°24′26.5″E / 42.074417°N 20.407361°E / 42.074417; 20.407361 (Drini Bridge)		 Kukës County [16]
2 Vasha Bridge
under construction		 Ura e Vashës 316 m (1,037 ft) Arch
Steel deck arch
Arbër Highway
Mat (river)
 2023 Klos
41°28′25.8″N 20°06′11.3″E / 41.473833°N 20.103139°E / 41.473833; 20.103139 (Vasha Bridge)		 Dibër County [2]
3 Fshat Bridge
under construction		 Ura e Fshatit Arch
Steel deck arch
Arbër Highway
 2023 Klos
41°28′40.3″N 20°04′36.3″E / 41.477861°N 20.076750°E / 41.477861; 20.076750 (Fshat Bridge)		 Dibër County [2]
4 Buna River Bridge
project		 Ura Velipojë - Ulqin 139 m (456 ft) 310 m (1,020 ft) Beam bridge
Composite steel/concrete
85+139+85
Road bridge
Buna
 Velipojë–Ulcinj
41°52′43.6″N 19°22′38.0″E / 41.878778°N 19.377222°E / 41.878778; 19.377222 (Buna River Bridge)		 Shkodër County
 Montenegro		 [17]
5 Dragot Bridge Ura e Dragotit 108 m (354 ft) 108 m (354 ft) Truss
Steel
National road SH75
Vjosa
 1935 Tepelenë
40°17′32.8″N 20°04′44.8″E / 40.292444°N 20.079111°E / 40.292444; 20.079111 (Dragot Bridge)		 Gjirokastër County [18]
[19]


Alphabetical list

Name Region Built Length Width Height Crosses Notes
Beçisht Bridge Tepelenë 1819 200 m (660 ft) 6 m (20 ft) Vjosë Ottoman era, connects 7 villages along the Vjosë river
Brataj Bridge Vlorë 16th century 50 m (160 ft) 4 m (13 ft) 12 m (39 ft) Shushicë Ottoman era
Bridges over Gjanica Fier 1777, 1935, etc The 7 pedestrian bridges that span the Gjanica river are located within the Fier city limits
Old Buna Bridge Shkodër 1889 166 m (545 ft) Buna river
New Buna Bridge Shkodër 2011 275.5 m (904 ft) 13.5 m (44 ft) 6 m (20 ft) Buna river Swingbridge
Bushtrica Bridge Librazhd 1973 50 m (160 ft) Railway bridge
Dragoti Bridge Tepelenë 1935 108 m (354 ft) 5 m (16 ft) Vjosë
Drini Bridge Kukës 2021 270 m (890 ft) 23.213 m (76.16 ft) 10 m (33 ft)
Erzen Bridge Shijak 1949 91 m (299 ft) Railway bridge
Goliku Bridge Pogradec 17th century 17 m (56 ft) 3 m (9.8 ft) 10 m (33 ft) Shkumbin Ottoman era, near the village of Mokër
Gomsiqe Bridge Pukë
Gorica Bridge Berat 1780, 1927 129.3 m (424 ft) 5.3 m (17 ft) 10 m (33 ft) Osum Ottoman era
Kaçarello Bridge Dropull 1780s Kaçarello Ottoman era, located in the village of Hllomo
Kadiu Bridge Përmet 1760 37 m (121 ft) 7 m (23 ft) Lengaricë Ottoman era
Kamara Bridge Librazhd 1715 40 m (130 ft) 3.5 m (11 ft) Shkumbin Ottoman era, near the village of Mirakë
Kasabashi Bridge Çorovodë 1640 26 m (85 ft) 3 m (9.8 ft) Osum Ottoman era
Kordhocë Bridge Gjirokastër 1820 20 m (66 ft) 3.7 m (12 ft) 7 m (23 ft) Drino Ottoman era
Kukës Bridge Kukës Drini i Zi River
Mat Bridge Kurbin 1927 River Mat Named after King Zogu.
Mesi Bridge Shkodër 1768 108 m (354 ft) 3.4 m (11 ft) 12.5 m (41 ft) Kir Ottoman era
Orgockë Bridge Kolonjë 17th century 63 m (207 ft) 3.4 m (11 ft) Ottoman era, has been badly damaged in recent years by heavy rainfall
Pishkash Bridge Librazhd 1973 32 m (105 ft) Railway bridge, segment Elbasan-Prrenjas
Prokop Bridge Himarë 1878 7 m (23 ft) 3.8 m (12 ft) 4 m (13 ft) Ottoman era, located east of the historic center of Himarë
Qukës Bridge 1, 2 Librazhd 1973 30 m (98 ft), 25 m (82 ft) Railway bridge, segment Elbasan-Prrenjas
St. John the Baptist Bridge Moscopole 1771 51.7 m (170 ft) 4.6 m (15 ft) 8 m (26 ft) Ottoman era, connects the village with the St. John the Baptist Monastery.
Shtrezë Bridge Kukës Segment of the Kukës-Shishtavec road
Skavica Bridge Kukës Black Drin tributary Bailey bridge
Tanners' Bridge Tirana 18th century 8 m (26 ft) 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) 3.5 m (11 ft) Lanë Ottoman era
Tarazhi Bridge Rrëshen 1989 800 m (2,600 ft) 38 m (125 ft) Railway bridge
Tatzat Bridge Delvinë 1537-1570 12 m (39 ft) 2 m (6 ft 7 in) 5 m (16 ft) Ottoman era, located in the village of Vergo
Old Vasha Bridge Mat 18th century 11 m (36 ft) 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) 7 m (23 ft) Mat Ottoman era
Vasha Bridge Klos 2021 250 m (820 ft) 158 m (518 ft) Part of Arbër Highway
Velabisht Bridge Berat 1760 70 m (230 ft) 7 m (23 ft) 7 m (23 ft) Osum Ottoman era
Vokopolë Bridge Berat 1750s 43 m (141 ft) Çorofgjat Ottoman era, connecting the villages of Vokopolë and Tërpan
Zëmblak Bridge Maliq 54 m (177 ft) Devoll Near the village of Zëmblak.
Zoto Bridge Vithkuq 19th century 30 m (98 ft) 3 m (9.8 ft) 3.8 m (12 ft) Ottoman era, located at the entrance of the historic village of Vithkuq
Zvërnec Bridge Vlorë 2018 280 m (920 ft) 3 m (9.8 ft) Connects visitors to the Zvërnec Monastery

Notes and references

  • Nicolas Janberg. "International Database for Civil and Structural Engineering". Structurae.com.
  1. ^ "Mes Bridge".
  2. ^ "Gorica Bridge".
  3. ^ "Tabakëve Bridge".
  4. ^ "Bushtrica Bridge".
  • Others references
  1. ^ a b "Qytetërimi i Urave" [Civilization of Bridges]. Progresibotime.com (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Rruga e Arbërit Gazetë e Pavarur [Arbër Highway Independent Newspaper] (PDF) (in Albanian). Vol. 3-4 (166). March 2020. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Ura e Kasabashit në Skrapar drejt rrënimit, asnjë ndërhyrje prej vitesh" [The Kasabashi bridge in Skrapar is about to collapse, no intervention for years]. Vizionplus.tv (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Një pullë poste për Urën e Vezirit" [A postage stamp for the Vizier Bridge]. Gazetashqiptare.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Ura e Vezirit mbi Drinin e bashkuar – Nga Ali Hasani" [Vezir Bridge over the united Drin - By Ali Hasani]. Voal.ch (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Ura e Kamares, një bukuri mesjetare e lënë në harresë" [Kamare Bridge, a forgotten medieval beauty]. Afp.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. ^ "The Mesi Bridge at Shkodra on the Kir river". Albania - Heritage at Risk 2004/2005. p. 32. Retrieved 4 December 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  8. ^ ""Monumentet i merr lumi", zhduket ura e Bahçallëkut në Shkodër" ["Monuments are taken by the river", the Bahçalek bridge in Shkodër disappears]. Citizens-channel.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Albania in the Painting of Edward Lear (1848)". Albanianart.net. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Këshilli i qarkut Berat njësia e statistikës" [Berat district council, statistics unit] (PDF). Qarkuberat.gov.al - Republika e Shqipërisë (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Përmet, restaurohet Ura e Katiut, monumenti i veçantë që daton prej vitit 1700" [Përmet, the Kati Bridge, a special monument dating back to 1700, is being restored]. Argjirolajm.net (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  12. ^ "The bridge of Tabakëve – Historic Monument of Tirana". Tirana.gov.al. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Ura e Vashës" [Vacha Bridge]. Kultplus.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Restaurohet Ura e Kordhocës në Lazarat, Kumbaro: Premtim i mbajtur, monument i shpëtuar" [The Kordhoca Bridge in Lazarat, Kumbaro is restored: Promise kept, monument saved]. Libohovaonline.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Dëmtohet ura e periudhës romake në Tepelenë" [The bridge from the Roman period in Tepelena is damaged]. Abcnews.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Drini Bridge, Kukës, Albania". Maegspa.com - Maeg Costruzioni SpA. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Construction of Buna River Bridge in the border area between Velipoja, Albania and Ulcinj, Montenegro". Wapi.gov.me. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  18. ^ Developments of steel structures in Albania, 2008, p.23
  19. ^ "Ura metalike e Dragotit" [Dragot metal bridge]. Visit-gjirokastra.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.

See also

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