Taji Bridge Reconstructed By MNF Coalition Soldiers
The Grand Canal Iraqi bridge is being rebuilt by the efforts of the 25th Infantry. The members of 2nd Stryker brigade combat team “Warrior, 25th Infantry traveled to Taji Qada to rebuild the bridge.
The bridge that spans the Grand Canal and is a key crossing to the main highway, but it was heavily damaged last year by two different terrorist attacks.
One attack involved a vehicle born IED device in the middle of the Southbound land, back in May of 2007. The other attack happened in August of 2007, when another bomb sent a large chunk of the bridge into the water of the Grand Canal, destroying it for use.
The Coalition Combat Team construction soldiers worked to line up a local construction company made up of Iraq citizens, and also worked themselves to labor and repair the bridge.
Most of the project has been completed by Iraqi citizens, but it is being completed in record time. The project is divided into two 90-day phases.
The first phase started June 29th, 2008, and so far progress on the first phase has gone well. The workers are completing work on the asphalt and foundation and repairing the damaged area with steel.
The second phase will start later this year and by the first of 2009 the bridge will look like it used to.
