Baghdad governorate says halted work on Baghdad-Mosul entry road due to unpaid funds

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Baghdad Governorate said work on the remaining sections of the Baghdad-Mosul entry road development project has been suspended because of insufficient financial allocations and outstanding payments to the contractor. The main roadbed, pedestrian bridges and two vehicle bridges were completed and opened to traffic on September 17, 2025, with actual progress recorded at 96.5 percent, according to the governorate. The governorate said the unfinished work consists of paving the approach roads to the two vehicle bridges and completing the lighting system. It also pushed back against media reports describing the project as 10 kilometers long, stating that the road spans 32 kilometers and involves new construction and extensive upgrades. The total project cost was set at 253 billion Iraqi dinars, the governorate said, adding that the contractor's approved overdue balance for work after June 1, 2025 amounts to 13,210,101,900 dinars. It denied reports that the firm demanded 30 billion dinars, saying payments are made only according to verified progress rates. The governorate added that no funds have been received from the Ministry of Finance for Baghdad's entry roads since June 1, 2025, leaving projects stalled and no advance payment of 30 billion dinars or any other amount disbursed.