Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Held In Bayji
After a period of construction, a ceremony to celebrate the opening of a bridge over the Tigris River was held May 8th. The new bridge is actually two smaller temporary bridges that cross the gap between two provinces, Kirkuk and Salah ad Din. The bridges are seen as a testimony of the will of the Iraqi people, it was a combined effort with local citizens, Iraqi forces, and construction crews from the Coalition that led to the bridge construction and installation.
The Security forces of the Iraqi Army were overwatch providing security while the bridge was being constructed. The people in the area worked hard to make the bridge happen, including many Iraqi craftsmen and workmen. The bridge is built out of steel and wood, and took several months to construct. It will encourage new trade between the two countries, and is seen as in a small way as a monument to Iraq.
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“This is a bridge that is a testimony of the perseverance of the Iraqi people, and a symbol of their united spirit and dedication, they want to see Iraq return to its destiny and its place in the Arab community. It’s a bridge that will suffice till a permanent bridge can be built in the same location, and it will help cause a brighter future for the people of Salah ad Din, and the overall nation of Iraq,” said Colonel Melvin Burch.
Colonel Burch is the 111th Engineer Brigade battalion who largely constructed the new bridge.