Basra: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited the site of the submerged tunnel project under the Khor Al-Zubair waterway today, Thursday, to inspect the progress of construction work at this strategic location within the Grand Faw Port project.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Sudani emphasized the importance of this project, which is the first of its kind in the region, stressing the need to expedite its completion within the established timeframe, given its vital role in the development process.

The submerged tunnel, which connects the Grand Faw Port (east) with the Umm Qasr district and the international highway (west), has a total length of 2,444 meters. The submerged section extends for 1,260 meters under the canal, at a depth of 28 meters below the water surface, with three lanes in each direction. The project is currently 80% complete. It is designed for the smooth and safe passage of vehicles and trains.

The tunnel forms the main link to the Grand Faw Port, connecting the port to the international highway and the development road that extends from Basra in the north, through Baghdad, to the Turkish border. It aims to transform Iraq into a major global logistics and trade hub by facilitating the movement of goods between Asia and Europe. Furthermore, it will reduce the distance required to connect Faw Port to the international highway from approximately 200 km to 62 km, and shorten travel time from two hours to approximately 35 minutes, thus significantly enhancing transportation efficiency.