A new rehabilitation project has started on the strategic Hamilton Road in Soran. The project aims to improve road conditions and strengthen safety along a key route connecting the Kurdistan Region with Iran.
The Soran Directorate of Roads Rehabilitation and Maintenance launched the project with a budget of more than 150 million Iraqi dinars, worth about $115,000.
The work covers the section between Khalifan and the Haji Omaran International Border Crossing. Meanwhile, road teams have started construction work as weather conditions improve.
Hamilton Road plays an important role in regional trade and tourism. The single-carriageway route carries heavy traffic through mountainous terrain. Therefore, authorities need regular maintenance to keep the road safe.
In addition to connecting the Kurdistan Region with Iran, the road serves residents of Soran and the Balakayati area. It also carries many local and international tourists who visit the region’s natural attractions.
Khusrat Sadiq, Director of the Soran Directorate of Roads Rehabilitation and Maintenance, said authorities allocated more than 150 million dinars for the project.
He explained that the rehabilitation will improve the route between Khalifan and Haji Omaran. The project will also improve safety for drivers, residents, and travelers.
Furthermore, the project forms part of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s wider infrastructure campaign. The Ninth Cabinet has allocated more than 5.3 trillion dinars, or around $4 billion, for major road and infrastructure projects.
The campaign focuses on modernizing highways, ring roads, and regional transport corridors. It also aims to replace dangerous single-carriageway roads with modern dual carriageways.
For example, the Erbil–Koya Highway represents one of the campaign’s major projects. The 37-to-48.5-kilometer highway will feature three lanes in each direction and follow international standards. Authorities expect the project to cost 683 billion dinars and become operational by 2028.
Another major project involves the Korre–Shaqlawa–Qandil Road. The 10-kilometer dual carriageway has a budget of 90 billion dinars and should finish by the end of 2026.
The project also includes the Mirawa and Mawaran tunnels. Mirawa already operates, while construction continues on Mawaran.
Overall, these projects aim to improve connectivity, reduce travel times, and strengthen road safety across the region.
