Kalar-Sulaymaniyah ‘Death Road’ project inches closer to completion

SULAYMANIYAH — The infamous “Death Road” between Kalar and Sulaymaniyah, notorious for its high number of traffic incidents and years of construction delays, has finally reached 83% completion after 13 years of work, according to the Garmian Roads and Bridges Directorate.

In a statement, the directorate announced that “the construction work on the Kalar-Sulaymaniyah road, spanning 41 kilometers, has significantly progressed, with 83% of the project now finished.” This marks a significant development in the second phase of the road’s construction, which began in 2011 but was stalled for several years.

The newly constructed four-lane divided highway, featuring two lanes in each direction separated by a median, replaces the previous undivided two-lane road. It links Garmian to Sulaymaniyah.

“Work continues across multiple sections, including asphalt paving, roadbed preparation, barrier installation, and the construction of several bridges,” the statement added. The segment from Kalar to Bawanoor is now fully operational, but the stretch from Bawanoor to Darbandikhan remains under development after years of delays due to funding shortfalls that repeatedly stalled the project.

The project has been plagued by setbacks since its inception. Despite the initial start in 2011, only 15% of the work had been completed by 2019. However, progress has accelerated over the past four years, with more than 80% of the work now completed.

The road, dubbed the “Death Road,” has earned its name due to its poor condition and frequent crashes, particularly involving the numerous trucks and lorries traveling to the Parvez Khan border crossing with Iran. The situation has worsened recently due to reported smuggling of Kurdish crude oil through the border.