Construction work continues on the Dukan–Chwarqurna dual-carriageway road, a key infrastructure project launched by the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve transportation and reduce travel pressure on drivers. Officials confirm that construction progress has now reached 13%, despite earlier delays.
The Dukan–Chwarqurna road stretches 53 kilometers and aims to strengthen links between major cities and districts in the Kurdistan Region. Authorities launched the project in 2009 and divided it into three phases to speed up implementation.
Several companies were expected to carry out the work. The first phase ended in 2012. After that, construction stopped for several years due to administrative and financial issues. Officials later reassigned the project to a new contractor, which restarted work on the second phase.
Mohammad Jalil, Director General of Roads and Reconstruction in Sulaimani, spoke about the project during a recent program. He said the company should have completed 17% of the second phase after 573 days of work. However, continuous rainfall and unstable weather conditions slowed construction activities and reduced daily productivity at the site.
Jalil explained that authorities also updated the project’s design to improve capacity and safety. From Dukan onward, engineers expanded each side of the road from 8 meters to 12 meters. This change aims to handle higher traffic volumes and reduce congestion in the future. The updated design also includes completing the Haibat Sultan tunnel, which will serve as a major transport link.
Once completed, the road will connect directly to Erbil and support smoother travel between the governorates. The project will not allow turns along the route. Engineers will instead build underpasses to manage traffic flow and reduce accident risks. Officials believe this design will improve safety for drivers, passengers, and commercial vehicles.
The second phase of the project covers 36.5 kilometers and carries a budget of 243 billion Iraqi dinars. Around 160 different types of machinery now operate daily at the construction site as crews continue work and push to increase progress.
