The Albanian Development Fund is completing the urban requalification of the New Ring Road in Berat city. The improvement of road infrastructure intends to resolve the problem of the inner roads of the city, starting from the former mall to Uznova neighbourhood. Through this investment, the city is accessed and are created more opportunities to explore it. The new road network includes bike lanes and sidewalks for the movement of residents in the city.

Considering that Berat is the only “bridge” which accesses Corovoda and Polican, the rehabilitation of the axis brings closer and connects the inhabitants of the area as well as shortens the time of movement towards these cities. While, the movement of heavy vehicles for the transport of goods and construction materials is reallocated, the vehicles movement is not only facilitated but also the environmental pollution is minimized and the preservation of the UNESCO protected area is ensured.

Infrastructural intervention shows direct effects on the standard and quality of life and the area becomes more vulnerable to tourists because the latter is the main income industry in the city, which is also growing day by day.

The reconstruction of the road serves as a ‘new tourist crossing point’, which includes the bicycle lane along the entire length of it (as the newest form of sport) and encourages new paths for further development in agritourism (restaurants, guest houses) and other entertainment activities, for visitors. At the same time, the axis offers great opportunities for locals whilst it eases their movement in order to export their products to market (honey, tea, etc.).

The project highlights and protects values of the area, as traditionally it is known for its special hospitality, landscape, characteristic traditional cuisine combined with the modern one, which includes olives, lamb and turkey but also wines produced in the vineyards close to the city of Berat.