Hamilton Road Rehabilitation Project Underway in Soran

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Soran Directorate of Roads Rehabilitation and Maintenance has launched a project to rehabilitate the strategic Hamilton Road, an international route connecting the Kurdistan Region with Iran, at a cost exceeding 150 million Iraqi dinars (about $115,000).

The project covers the section of the road stretching from the district of Khalifan to the Haji Omaran International Border Crossing.

Despite ongoing financial and economic challenges, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) continues to implement key infrastructure and service projects across the region. With weather conditions becoming more favorable for construction, teams from the Soran Directorate have begun rehabilitation work on Hamilton Road, an important commercial and tourist route.

The single-carriageway road carries heavy traffic and passes through challenging mountainous terrain, making regular rehabilitation and maintenance necessary.

In addition to connecting the Kurdistan Region with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hamilton Road is a major route for residents of the Soran and Balakayati areas. It also serves large numbers of domestic and international tourists visiting the region's popular natural and tourist destinations each year.

Khusrat Sadiq, Director of the Soran Directorate of Roads Rehabilitation and Maintenance, told Kurdistan24 that more than 150 million Iraqi dinars had been allocated for the project.

He said the rehabilitation, covering the route from Khalifan to the Haji Omaran International Border Crossing, aims to improve road conditions and enhance safety for drivers and citizens.

The project is part of the KRG Ninth Cabinet's broader infrastructure campaign, which has allocated more than 5.3 trillion Iraqi dinars — approximately $4 billion — to the construction and modernization of major highways, urban ring roads, and regional corridors.

The campaign includes efforts to transform dangerous single-carriageway roads into modern dual carriageways, improve connectivity between urban areas, and upgrade road designs using local engineering expertise and workforce.

Among the major projects is the Erbil–Koya Highway, a 37-to-48.5-kilometer multi-lane highway being built to international standards. The project, estimated to cost 683 billion dinars, is expected to be fully operational by 2028. It will feature three lanes in each direction and is anticipated to reduce travel time to approximately 27 minutes.

Another major project is the Korre–Shaqlawa–Qandil Road, a 10-kilometer dual carriageway with a budget of 90 billion dinars. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026 and includes two major tunnels — Mirawa, which is already operational, and Mawaran. The tunnels are designed to significantly reduce travel time between Erbil and Soran.