List of bridges in Albania
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[2], located in the village of Poshnjë, it dates back to the late antiquity.
The longest spanning bridge is the Shushica Bridge (520 m), 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.[3] 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 |
Berat County | [4] | |
| 2 | Vizier Bridge submerged |
Ura e Vezirit | Masonry | Footbridge Drin (river) |
17th century | Kukës |
Kukës County | [5] [6] | |||
| 3 | Kamara 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 |
Elbasan County | [7] | |
| 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 |
Shkodër County | [S 1] [8] | |
| 5 | Bahçallëk Bridge destroyed in 1880 |
Ura e Bahçallëkut | Masonry 5 semi-circular arches |
1768 | Shkodër 42°02′32.6″N 19°29′34.5″E / 42.042389°N 19.492917°E |
Shkodër County | [9] [10] | ||||
| 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 |
Berat County | [S 2] [11] | |
| 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 |
Gjirokastër County | [12] | |
| 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 |
Tirana County | [S 3] [13] | ||
| 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 |
Dibër County | [14] | ||
| 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 |
Gjirokastër County | [15] | |||
| 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 |
Gjirokastër County | [16] | ||
| 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 |
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 |
2024 | Kukës 42°04′27.9″N 20°24′26.5″E / 42.074417°N 20.407361°E |
Kukës County | [17] | ||
| 2 | Vasha Bridge under construction |
Ura e Vashës | 316 m (1,037 ft) | Arch Steel deck arch |
2023 | Klos 41°28′25.8″N 20°06′11.3″E / 41.473833°N 20.103139°E |
Dibër County | [3] | |||
| 3 | Fshat Bridge under construction |
Ura e Fshatit | Arch Steel deck arch |
2023 | Klos 41°28′40.3″N 20°04′36.3″E / 41.477861°N 20.076750°E |
Dibër County | [3] | ||||
| 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 |
Shkodër County Montenegro |
[18] | ||
| 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 |
Gjirokastër County | [19] [20] |
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 | 2024 | 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.
- Others references
- ^ a b "Qytetërimi i Urave" [Civilization of Bridges]. Progresibotime.com (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Ura e Kaurit (Frëngut) në fshatin Poshnje – DRTK Berat". Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- ^ 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) - ^ "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.
- ^ "Një pullë poste për Urën e Vezirit" [A postage stamp for the Vizier Bridge]. Gazetashqiptare.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ura e Kamares, një bukuri mesjetare e lënë në harresë" [Kamare Bridge, a forgotten medieval beauty]. Afp.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "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) - ^ ""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.
- ^ "Albania in the Painting of Edward Lear (1848)". Albanianart.net. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The bridge of Tabakëve – Historic Monument of Tirana". Tirana.gov.al. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Ura e Vashës" [Vacha Bridge]. Kultplus.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Drini Bridge, Kukës, Albania". Maegspa.com - Maeg Costruzioni SpA. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Construction of Buna River Bridge in the border area between Velipoja, Albania and Ulcinj, Montenegro". Wapi.gov.me. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ Developments of steel structures in Albania, 2008, p.23
- ^ "Ura metalike e Dragotit" [Dragot metal bridge]. Visit-gjirokastra.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
See also
- Transport in Albania
- Highways in Albania
- Motorways in Albania
- Rail transport in Albania
- Geography of Albania
- List of rivers of Albania
External links
- "Brücken in der Albanien" [Bridges in Albania]. Brueckenweb.de (in German).
- "Albanian Heritage: Top 10 Historic Bridges to Cross in Albania". Albanopedia.com. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- Stasa, Keti; Lako, Niko (October 2008). "Developments of steel structures in Albania" (PDF). 6th Hellenic National Conference of Steel Structures: Proceedings.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help)