Vlora-Otranto Tunnel

Strait of Otranto

The Vlora-Otranto Tunnel is a proposed undersea tunnel that aims to connect Vlorë, in Albania, with Otranto, in Italy, across the Strait of Otranto a narrow strip of water that separates the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea and is about 71 kilometers (44 miles) wide at its narrowest point.[1]

Overview

The concept of a fixed link between Albania and Italy has existed for many years, dating back to the ancient Roman road, Via Egnatia.[2] In the 1930s, there were proposals to build a bridge across the strait. However, a tunnel is now considered a more feasible option.

Building the Vlora-Otranto Tunnel could offer several potential benefits. It would reduce travel times between Albania and Italy, as the current ferry crossing takes several hours. The tunnel could also facilitate trade and tourism between the two countries and potentially improve integration between Albania and the rest of Europe.[3]

There are significant challenges to be addressed before construction can begin. The project would be very expensive, and it is unclear who would finance it. Additionally, there are concerns about the environmental impact of the construction.

Overall, the Vlora-Otranto Tunnel is a complex project with both potential benefits and challenges. It remains uncertain whether the tunnel will ever be built, but it is an idea that continues to be discussed.[4]

See also

• Llogara Tunnel

References

1. Bari, Quotidiano di (2013-06-22). "Otranto-Valona, il tunnel risibile - QuotidianodiBari.it". Quotidiano di Bari (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-07-08.
2. ... Nineteen miles from this point are the towns of Vaste and Otranto, at the boundary between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic, where is the shortest crossing to Greece (Balkans), opposite to the town of Apollonia, separated by an arm of the sea not more than 50 miles wide. King Pyrrhus of Epirus first conceived the plan of carrying a causeway over this gap by throwing bridges across it, and after him Marcus Varro had the same idea when commanding the fleets of Pompey in the Pirate War; but both were prevented by other commitments ... Pliny the Elder: Natural History. III, 11
3. "Italy's failed project for the Trans-Balkan railway "Rome-Valona-Constantinople" | EHNE". ehne.fr. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
4. "Të ndërtohet një tunel nënujor Shqipëri-Itali | ECIKS". 2021-08-08. Archived from the original on 2021-08-08. Retrieved 2024-07-08.