TIRANA, October 2 /ATA/ The first snowfall of the season occurred today in the Northern areas of the country.

This year, Albania had snowfall earlier than during the previous years, but the Albanian Road Authority and the companies contracted for road maintenance have intervened immediately to guarantee safe traffic along the national roads.

Despite the fact that the official winter maintenance season starts on November 15, the relevant work teams have been on the ground since the early hours of this morning in the areas where there has been snowfall on Zapodi bridge–Shishtavec and in Theth.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku praised the timely response of the Road Authority structures and stressed that readiness will continue without interruption to respond to any possible situation.

"The first snow occurred early this year. The National Road Safety Agency and road maintenance companies were fully prepared, despite the fact that winter maintenance period starts on November 15 according to the regulation. Snow removal vehicles and teams of workers have been on the ground since the early hours of today on the Zapodi Bridge–Shishtavec road and in Theth. Traffic continues normally along all national roads", emphasized Balluku.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy called on citizens for more caution from drivers, especially in mountainous areas, and recalls that national roads are under constant monitoring to guarantee road safety and smooth traffic. /r.e/p.s./