Unprecedented in Engineering and Scale Across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq
For the first time in both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, an extraordinary composite bridge rising to a height of 48 meters is under construction as part of the Erbil–Koya dual carriageway highway project.
Under the direct directives of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, construction has officially commenced on the “Shorish Bridge” near the village of Kani Darband.
The bridge, executed by Awzan Company, spans 250 meters in length and features dual carriageways with three lanes in each direction, utilizing an advanced composite steel and reinforced concrete engineering design. Currently, active construction continues across 30 kilometers of the strategic highway, with 22 kilometers already fully paved with asphalt.
The Erbil–Koya dual carriageway, being implemented by decision of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, is progressing with rigorous momentum, now reaching the construction phase of the Shorish Bridge—one of the route’s most distinctive and striking modern landmarks.
Located within the Degala Dam catchment basin near Kani Darband, the design of the Shorish Bridge is unmatched in the region and throughout Iraq. Beyond its distinctive architectural profile, the 250-meter-long bridge stands 48 meters high with an 80-meter total width, accommodating three lanes per carriage direction and an 80-meter span between its structural piers.
The Erbil–Koya dual carriageway represents one of the major strategic infrastructure projects undertaken by the Kurdistan Regional Government. Vigorous work is underway to build a high-capacity six-lane dual carriageway (three lanes in each direction). Significant milestones have already been achieved, with over 30 kilometers prepared and 22 kilometers paved, alongside continuous efforts to ensure project delivery on schedule.
The foundation stone for the Erbil–Koya dual carriageway was laid by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani during an official ceremony on October 10, 2024. Following the groundbreaking, active execution of this vital public service infrastructure began immediately.
The Erbil–Koya highway serves as a vital strategic arterial corridor within Erbil Province, functioning as the primary transit artery linking the capital, Erbil, with Sulaimaniyah Province, Halabja Province, and the Independent Administrations of Garmian and Raparin.
With a total allocated budget of 560,443,000,000 Iraqi Dinars (560.443 billion IQD), the highway is being implemented by local contracting firms adhering to world-class modern engineering specifications.
Under the initial blueprint, the road was designed as a four-lane highway (two lanes in each direction). However, upon the instructions of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and in the public interest, the master design was upgraded to six lanes (three lanes in each direction) with superior safety standards and build quality. In the revised plan, all ground-level U-turns and intersections have been replaced with dedicated overpasses and underpasses, eliminating traffic bottlenecks and minimizing collision risks for motorists throughout the corridor.