Iraq
The Shatt al-Arab waterway in Iraq's southernmost Basra province. Photo: Bilind T. Abdullah/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's transportation ministry said that it is speeding up the Development Road project, aiming to complete the design phase by September.
“We have decided to expedite the development road project,” transportation ministry spokesperson Maytham al-Safi told Rudaw on Wednesday. The inspection, land surveys, and initial design are “75 percent finished and it will be done in September.”
The Development Road project will extend from southern Iraq to the Turkish border, connecting the Persian Gulf with Turkey. It is expected to enhance Iraq’s geopolitical position, boost the economy, and create over 100,000 job opportunities.
An Italian company has served as consultant, while a Turkish firm has handled land surveying and inspection, the spokesperson said.
The highway part of the project will stretch 1,131 kilometers and the railway 1,201 kilometers.
The route is planned to link Iraq with the European Union through Turkey, though the initial phase does not include the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Transportation Ano Abdoka has endorsed the project and emphasized the region’s support, but cautioned against “discrimination.”
The project is expected to cost $17 billion. The first phase is slated for completion by 2028, with the second and third phases expected to finish in 2033 and 2050, respectively.
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