Erbil Ring-Road Link Nears Completion as 5-Km Route Reaches 65%
The 5-kilometer connector is 65% complete and expected to open by November, while plans advance to modernize the Erbil-Pirmam highway.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A major road project linking Erbil's 120-meter and 150-meter ring roads has reached 65% completion, with the new route expected to open to traffic later this year as authorities seek to ease congestion on the Erbil-Pirmam corridor.
The 5-kilometer, 60-meter-wide connector is being built at a cost of 36 billion Iraqi dinars, funded through the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Municipalities, Erbil Mayor Karzan Hadi told Kurdistan24 on Saturday.
Five-Lane Carriageways
Hadi said the road is expected to be completed within 70 to 90 days, putting its planned completion around November.
"This strategic 5-kilometer road is being implemented at a cost of 36 billion IQD from the Ministry of Municipalities' budget by a local company," Hadi told Kurdistan24.
The project has been designed to handle heavy traffic and vehicle loads. It includes two 19-meter-wide carriageways, with each side accommodating five lanes.
Around 182,000 square meters of pavement are being laid as part of the construction.
A 2.4-kilometer box culvert drainage system is also being installed to reduce the risk of water accumulation and improve the road's durability during heavy rainfall.
Easing Pressure on Erbil-Pirmam
The new connector is expected to provide an alternative route for motorists traveling between different parts of Erbil and the Pirmam area.
Authorities expect the project to reduce pressure on the existing Erbil-Pirmam highway, one of the main routes connecting the capital with surrounding districts and rapidly developing residential areas.
The road is also intended to support the expansion of nearby neighborhoods and improve access to public services and commercial areas, including the Kark area.
The project forms part of Erbil's broader efforts to expand its road network in line with the city's urban development plans.
Erbil-Pirmam Highway Next
Kurdistan24 has learned that authorities are preparing to begin a larger modernization of the main Erbil-Pirmam road once the new connector is completed.
The renovation will follow the Erbil Master Plan and is expected to introduce a redesigned layout intended to improve traffic flow, safety and the road's overall capacity.
According to the supplied information, the upgraded highway will adopt a modern strategic design similar to Barzan Street in Duhok, which has been developed as a major urban transportation corridor.
The planned renovation comes as Erbil continues to expand beyond its traditional urban boundaries, increasing demand for wider roads and better connections between the city, surrounding residential developments and major tourism and commercial destinations.
Part of Wider Road Expansion
The ring-road connector and planned Pirmam highway renovation reflect a broader emphasis on transportation infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.
For Erbil, the projects are aimed not only at addressing immediate congestion but also at preparing the capital's road network for continued population growth and urban expansion.
With construction on the connector already past the halfway mark, authorities are now moving toward the final phase of a project expected to create a faster link between Erbil's major ring roads and provide additional capacity along one of the city's busiest corridors.