Shafaq News- Basra
The submerged tunnel at Iraq’s Basra Grand Al-Faw Port,southern Iraq, has surpassed 95% completion and entered its final stages, withthe project expected to open to vehicle traffic after the remaining works arecompleted, an official told Shafaq News on Saturday.
Farhan Al-Fartousi, the head of the state-run GeneralCompany for Ports, told Shafaq News that the project had faced “major andcomplex internal and external challenges, including repeated attempts toobstruct its progress.” He added that studies and final designs for theDevelopment Road corridor, which complements the submerged tunnel, have beencompleted and submitted to the government.
Al-Fartousi described the project as a key pillar of Iraq’seconomic transformation in the coming phase, stressing that the companycontinues to implement strategic projects led by Grand Al-Faw Port and theDevelopment Road corridor.
The Development Road project is designed as a strategictransport corridor stretching nearly 1,200 kilometers from southern to northernIraq, linking highways, railways, and energy infrastructure as part of anintegrated transport network.
Earlier this week, Al-Fartousi announced the floating of thefourth concrete segment of the submerged tunnel, extending its total length to693 meters.
The submerged tunnel is one of the main infrastructureprojects within Grand Al-Faw Port in southern Basra province, connecting Al-Fawwith the Umm Qasr area through an undersea route.
: Rebuilding Basra’s maritime power: Is Al-Faw Port the game changer for Iraq?