Prime Minister Barzani to Inaugurate Soran’s Strategic 40-Meter Dual-Carriageway Bridge

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is set to officially inaugurate the elevated bridge and dual-carriageway 40-meter road project in Soran at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, in a ceremony marking the completion of one of the region’s major strategic infrastructure projects.

The project was first launched on May 28, 2024, when Prime Minister Barzani laid the foundation stone for several development projects in the Soran Independent Administration, including the now-completed elevated bridge and dual-lane roadway.

Stretching five kilometers, the dual-carriageway road features what officials describe as the highest bridge in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The bridge spans 250 meters in length and rises 23 meters high.

According to project details, construction of the bridge alone cost 28 billion Iraqi dinars, while the total cost of the overall project reached 50.5 billion dinars.

Work on the project continued around the clock in two shifts, involving 350 workers, 14 surveyors, and 10 engineers. Construction was completed earlier this year after intensive day-and-night operations.

Beyond its architectural significance, the project is expected to substantially ease traffic congestion and improve transportation connectivity by linking central Soran with the town of Mergasor.

Officials say the roadway will facilitate smoother movement for motorists and contribute to broader economic and tourism activity in the mountainous area.

The inauguration also highlights the Kurdistan Regional Government’s ongoing infrastructure push in the Soran area, which has gained greater administrative importance in recent years.

On Sept. 14, 2021, Prime Minister Barzani officially elevated Soran from a district-level town to an independent administration. The administrative unit now encompasses six districts and has since witnessed increased investment in roads, public services, and development projects.