ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Erbil-Baghdad road, which has been closed since the events of October 16, will be reopened “as soon as possible”, according to a statement from a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation that visited the Iraqi capital on Sunday.
Work on repairing the bridge will begin while the steel bridge offers a temporary solution.
The Erbil-Kirkuk road is an important route for trade and the movement of people.
While the road was closed, trucks, trailers, and taxis took the alternative route along the Koya-Erbil road. Accidents have increased on this stretch of road, which was never built to cope with such heavy traffic. The KRG has agreed to shoulder the responsibility to build the steel bridge.
The KRG delegation included the Region’s representative to Baghdad Farhad Nimatallah, the director of Erbil police, a representative from the Ministry of Peshmerga, and the director general of Erbil’s roads and bridges commission. The Iraqi delegation consisted of Mohammed al-Shamari, a representative of Abadi’s office, and Rakkan al-Jabouri, the acting governor of Kirkuk.
According to a readout from their meeting with Iraqi officials, the two sides agreed to reopen the road and to build a temporary steel bridge over the Little Zab River. The original Pirde Bridge was destroyed in fighting on October 20 between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Army and Hashd al-Shaabi Shiite paramilitias.
Work on repairing the bridge will begin while the steel bridge offers a temporary solution.
The Erbil-Kirkuk road is an important route for trade and the movement of people.
While the road was closed, trucks, trailers, and taxis took the alternative route along the Koya-Erbil road. Accidents have increased on this stretch of road, which was never built to cope with such heavy traffic. The KRG has agreed to shoulder the responsibility to build the steel bridge.
The KRG delegation included the Region’s representative to Baghdad Farhad Nimatallah, the director of Erbil police, a representative from the Ministry of Peshmerga, and the director general of Erbil’s roads and bridges commission. The Iraqi delegation consisted of Mohammed al-Shamari, a representative of Abadi’s office, and Rakkan al-Jabouri, the acting governor of Kirkuk.
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