It took Ilmi Beqiri from Kosovo more than 2 hours to cover 25 km of road from Milot to Shengjin. He came with his family to spend the summer holidays on the coast of Shengjin, but along the way he faced a very heavy traffic.
“I am from Kosovo and I came to spend the summer holidays here in Shengjin. In Milot I faced a very heavy traffic and often there was a total traffic jam. I quickly came from Morina to Milot, while from Milot to Shengjin which is very close it took me more than 2 hours to reach the destination. “I did not think so, but the traffic was a real horror and I do not understand why something like this happens.”, says the tourist from Kosovo.
The traffic on the roads that cross the Lezha region has become a nightmare for their users. The tourist season is accompanied by a high flow of vehicles, creating heavy and frequent traffic and total traffic jams, while the most problematic segments are the highway from Milot to Balldre and Shengjin road. “I have such a job and I often move on the Lezha-Milot highway. Ever since the tourist season started, traffic here has been a real nightmare.
I was stuck in traffic several times for several hours. There are many police officers, but the flow of vehicles is large and the road can not afford it. This is something ongoing every summer season. In short, a real horror for us who live here in Lezha “, says Gjok Prenga, a driver.
DRIVERS
While a taxi driver, who is constantly on the move indicates that due to traffic in many cases does not arrive on time at the destination. “I am on the move all the time. The summer season here is a real horror because of the traffic, especially on the Balldre-Milot road. I am often stuck in traffic and I did not manage to get to the destination I was asked for on time. There are times that the Balldre-Milot road, which is a short distance, I can not do even for two hours due to the blockage created by the high flow of vehicles.
Something like this is constant in every summer season. I think it is not the fault of the Police, but of the roads which are narrow and do not withstand the flow of vehicles during the summer “, says taxi driver Arion Gjini.
To avoid traffic, many drivers are forced to find alternative solutions, passing through secondary roads recommended by the Traffic Police itself.
“During the summer, I use the secondary roads to move, because the highway is a real nightmare. Stuck in traffic and it takes 2 hours to go from Lezha to Milot. Crossing on secondary roads is longer, but at least you do not get stuck “, says another driver.
POLICE
In the face of the high influx of vehicles, it seems that the Traffic Police itself has “surrendered”, which despite reinforcements with additional forces has not managed to avoid traffic.
The Chief of Road Traffic, Altin Mena, says that the lack of standards on the road becomes a cause for heavy traffic, while adding that all measures have been taken to cope with the influx during the summer season.
“Lezha Traffic Police has increased reinforcements, there are additional services from different regions of the country, the State Police and the Lezha Traffic Police. The effectives are working long hours, focusing on the most problematic points to help facilitate movement. But as you can see, even the flow of vehicles on the road is extraordinary during this period and creates a lot of traffic.
Roads have another impact on this, as they should be wider and with better standards, but it is not our job to provide solutions. “The Traffic Police has all the capacities, whether human or technical, to cope with such an influx and is doing its best”, says Mena.
The Chief of Road Traffic in Lezha, Altin Mena, urges road users to respect the rules of road traffic, as otherwise they will face punitive measures.
“Road users must respect the norms of behavior and not violate traffic rules. “There will be no tolerance for violators and the penalties will be maximum in accordance with the law, as non-compliance with the rules leads to road accidents.” adds Mena. Heavy traffic is expected to accompany the roads of Lezha region until the beginning of September, while this situation has become an annual refrain./ Panorama
