The Vlora-Otranto Tunnel is a proposed undersea tunnel that aims to connect

Vlorë Vlorë ( ; ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, third most populous city of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surr ...

, in

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

, with

Otranto Otranto (, , ; ; ; ; ) is a coastal town, port and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). ...

, in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, across the

Strait of Otranto The Strait of Otranto (; ) connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width between Punta Palascìa, eastern Salento, and Karaburun Peninsula, western Albania, is less than . The strait is named after ...

, a narrow strip of water that separates the

Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...

from the

Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea (, ; or , ; , ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, and the Salento peninsula to the west, ...

and is about 71 kilometers (44 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

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 The Via Egnatia was a road constructed by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. It crossed Illyricum, Macedonia, and Thracia, running through territory that is now part of modern Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, and European Turkey as a contin ...

. 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. 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.

References

{{reflist Proposed undersea tunnels in Europe

Overview

See also

References