Freeway 1 (Iraq)
Freeway 1 is the longest freeway in Iraq. It is long. It extends from Umm Qasr in Basra towards Syria. It connects to the M31 in Basra, the M96 in Anbar and the M97 in Baghdad.
The construction of the M1 was the "by far largest expressway project in the Middle East" of its time. The German firm DORSCH CONSULT carried out the feasibility study and the detailed design between 1975 and 1977 and commenced construction in 1979. The design was based on the latest German expressway standards.
Under the same company, construction supervision commenced in 1979. of roads and of canals were relocated or newly built and 25 interchanges were constructed. A total of 80 bridges, totalling 9,230 metres, and 117 overpasses, totalling 6,820 metres, were constructed. are 6-lane sections, were constructed as 4-lane sections.
18 rest stations and 200 parking areas were constructed initially.