Titled the Iraq Transport Economic Corridors (ITREC) project, the plan is to provide strategic investments in key road corridors that are critical to domestic mobility, regional integration, and long-term economic growth. According to the World Bank, around 90% of Iraq’s transport is by road. Boosting the road network will deliver a major economic benefit for the country.
Iraq’s road network is in poor condition at present with high maintenance needs due to years of underfunding. Although much of the network is surfaced, little improvement work has been carried out for many years.
The World Bank says that the Iraq Transport Economic Corridors project will focus on priority investments along two strategic axes. One will be a north-south corridor linking Baghdad to the Turkish border through Expressway 2 (E2). The other will be an east-west corridor along Expressway 1 (E1) connecting Baghdad with Syria and Jordan. In its first phase, the programme will finance the rehabilitation of key segments of E1, upgrades to selected roads in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the construction of an initial section of E2.
“Roads are the backbone of the Iraq’s transport system and key to broader connectivity and job creation,” said Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Middle East Division Director. “The ITREC project will help Iraq address critical infrastructure gaps. By investing in strategic economic corridors, the project will connect people to markets and services, strengthen regional and economic integration, and contribute to more inclusive and sustainable growth.”
The ITREC Project is the first in a series of projects intended to improve Iraq’s road sector and support long term reform and investment.
