Fiks Fare / Millions of euro projects flood Durrës

The promenade has been made piece-by-piece, where a piece of concrete and wood was initially placed. Then “Sphinx” and “Sphinx Mosaic” 3 years ago, while for 1 year the construction of the promenade “Taulantia” has been completed. In the images received by the editorial office, it seems that the whole project has started to be destroyed. The mosaic stones, built near the “Sphinx”, have come out of the place, while a part of the concrete surface is being taken by the river.

Some residents point out that the plank project was done several years ago. “It used to be beautiful, now it is being destroyed” says an elderly man, while another claims that “they want to get some money”. Meanwhile, the observation of “Fiks Fare” shows that the sea has destroyed the wooden part, even the iron columns. Also, the concrete part has started to crack and a part has been taken by the sea.

The journalists of “Fiks Fare” talked to Mr. Artan Kacani, urban architect. He points out that all the damage to the project near the “Sphinx” has come as a result of some sewage pipelines. Meanwhile, he also shows the damaged part, claiming that everything was done without a plan and piece by piece. The observation shows that large plates have been uprooted, while the sea has “eaten” the metal parts. “There are no protective barriers from the sea. “The waves collide with the concrete part and rise to great heights, bringing the sea water inside the neighborhoods,” he says, adding that “at these rates, the sea will take the rest.”

Meanwhile, in the south of the “Sphinx”, the construction of the “Taulantia” square has been completed for a year. But with the lightest rains, part of this pedestrian and square fills with water, even turning the area into an artificial lake. According to the documents available to “Fiks Fare”, in the middle of 2018 the Municipality of Durrës has announced the tender with a design object of “Taulantia” square, with a fund of 6.6 million ALL. Meanwhile, at the end of that year, the Albanian Development Fund has opened the procedure “Reconstruction of ‘Taulantia’ square, Durrës Municipality” with a fund of 362 million ALL. In March 2019, the winner was announced, who offered 284 million ALL. According to the documents, the offer was not lower, but others are unqualified. The deadline for completion of works was 18 months. The project was inaugurated in December 2020 and has been operational for 1 year. But, before turning 1 year old, the project has started to degrade.

“Every time it rains, this whole area is filled with water, it turns into a small lake. They have made some nets for water drainage, but they do not serve anything “says Mr. Kacani, urban architect. He further claims that the constructions were done casually, while there should have been a better investment.

A little further east of “Taulantia” square is the street of the same name. This is also a recent project, but again every time it rains, the road is full of water. “The water here goes to half a meter. Cars break down and residents are isolated. “Every time it rains, the road is filled with water,” says Artan Kacani, a lecturer.

The journalists of “Fiks Fare” also talked with the brigadier of the Services Directorate in the Municipality of Durrës, Flamur Salikaj. He says that his company finds it very difficult to remove the waste brought by the sea, the impurities. Shows that the whole area is filled with water whenever there is a wave and recent investments have only aggravated the situation. “Investments have made our work difficult. Very, very bad. The whole area is filled with kelp and sand. We have 10 days to work and we have not removed it yet. The whole pedestrian area is breaking down and this reindeer will be taken by the sea. There should have been water ambushes “concludes the brigadier.

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