Toll payments begin for Llogara tunnel users

Drivers using the Llogara Tunnel this weekend began paying tolls, as the government introduced differentiated fees based on vehicle type. According to the new tariff system — displayed on roadside signage — motorcycles will pay 100 ALL or approximately €1.03. Passenger cars will pay 250 ALL, and heavy vehicles up to 5,000 ALL. Emergency vehicles are exempt from payment.

Why is this important: The toll system marks the start of regular operations for one of Albania’s most significant infrastructure projects in recent years — designed to ensure long-term maintenance and safety of the 5.9 km tunnel, the country’s longest.

Context: The Llogara Tunnel connects Dukat with Palasë, drastically shortening travel time to the southern Riviera. A journey that once took anywhere from 40 to 90 minutes through a steep and narrow mountain road now takes just 7 minutes. Since its opening to traffic in May 2024, the tunnel has become a major boost for tourism, providing a faster and safer route between Vlora and the coastal villages along the Ionian Sea.

Over two consecutive summer seasons, millions of domestic and foreign visitors have used the tunnel, which has significantly reduced congestion and improved access to one of Albania’s most visited regions.