Construction Ministry: Nasiriyah Highway Link Project Reaches 40 Percent Completion Rate

The overall completion rate of the project linking the city of Nasiriyah to International Highway No. 1 has reached 40 percent, the Department of Roads and Bridges under the Ministry of Construction and Housing announced on Saturday. This 24.6-kilometer vital strategic project is funded under the Emergency Food Security and Development Law and is designed to strengthen connectivity among major road networks, significantly reduce travel time, and stimulate economic and developmental progress across Dhi Qar Governorate. The announcement came during an extensive inspection tour carried out by the Director General of the Department of Roads and Bridges, Ammar Adel Hussein, who examined the work sites and alignment. He held a comprehensive technical meeting at the resident engineer headquarters, attended by the Director of Supervision and Follow-up, the Director of Expressways, and the executing company representative, to review execution milestones and address standing obstacles. The Director General directed the immediate resolution of public service conflicts, particularly power transmission towers and urban obstructions within Nasiriyah municipality limits, in close coordination with relevant authorities according to fixed timetables. During his field inspection, the Director General reviewed construction quality and execution standards, urging working crews to intensify daily efforts, accelerate operational tempo, and strictly adhere to engineering specifications and safety guidelines to deliver the project on schedule. He explained that reaching the 40 percent mark followed asphalt paving works over approximately 12 kilometers across multiple segments, alongside ongoing earth-filling, compaction, sub-base gravel laying, and culvert construction, as well as finishing the reinforced concrete elements for the overpass bridge connecting to the expressway. The department affirmed its sustained commitment to conducting direct on-site supervision and removing field bottlenecks to ensure rapid project delivery. The expressway link features two dual carriageways, each 12 meters wide, separated by a 10.5-meter median island. The infrastructure scope incorporates four underpass bridges, various culvert systems, a major junction with International Expressway No. 1, and an at-grade interchange connecting Nasiriyah to the ring road leading to the North Nasiriyah Bridge.