Building Bridges Over Iraq

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rebuilds an important landmark in northern Iraq

Spanning the waters of the Great Zab River is the Khazir Bridge, a very important structure on the main route from Mosul, Iraq, to Turkey.

During the first weeks of Operation Iraqi Freedom I, the Iraqi army and Coalition forces fought for days to gain control of the Khazir Bridge. At that time, the world’s attention was focused on the battles in Baghdad, but 2,400 Iraqi soldiers fanatically defended this bridge as if the fate of Hussein’s regime depended on its control.

Once the Iraqis realized they could not overpower Coalition forces and gain control of the area, they launched howitzer rounds at the bridge, dismantling the rickety concrete structure. The Coalition forces were able to claim victory even as the bridge, so essential for the commerce and culture of the people in northern Iraq, lay in ruins.

“When Saddam blew out this bridge, he took away our main route for fuel and medical supplies,” said Farhad Othman Wess, a resident of the area. “After the bridge was bombed, we had to take much longer routes in the mountains on undeveloped roads.”

In the United States, if a major route is shut down, there are several alternate routes. But for the Iraqi people, there is only one highway that will take them to the northern most part of Iraq and without the Khazir Bridge, this route does not exist.

Prior to the destruction of the Khazir Bridge, an estimated 550,000 travelers a week relied on it to drive to and from northern Iraq, according to Iraqi engineers who helped rebuild the bridge.

Repair work

For one year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and several Iraqi contractors worked to repair the landmark. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development, the bridge cost $3.2 million to renovate.

The bridge was originally designed and consequently repaired in accordance with United Kingdom Highways Agency standards. The original was designed to hold 55.6 tons.  Now it can safely hold 90 tons.

“In the United States, this bridge would be considered acceptable as a secondary bridge,” said Dale Bestgen, an engineer with the Corps. “The guard railing and spacing of the bridge expansion joints are similar to U.S. designs.”

Cast-in-place slabs on pre-stressed concrete beams support the fixed-beam bridge. The bridge was renovated by replacing one span and realigning the existing spans. The replaced spans were 29 meters in width.

“The biggest challenge in the building aspect was the fabrication of satisfactory concrete beams,” Bestgen said. “We had to place an engineer at the concrete plant to ensure proper fabrication. Another challenge was finding experienced construction workers. This was resolved by subcontracting a local firm.”

The local firm hired was the 77 Group Construction Company. According to Iraqi engineers who assisted the Corps, the bridge is better than before.

“We have built many bridges in Iraq and this one is really no different than any other. But because of the importance the Khazir Bridge has for our people, we are very proud to be a part of this project,” said Yasar Kopan, civil engineer for 77 Group Construction.

Dangers possible

Kopan said he recognized the risks involved with working with Coalition forces, but said “we will not let terrorists dictate our plan to rebuild our country.”

Bestgen said the terrorists might fire rocket propelled grenades, AK-47s or place bombs near the construction sites with hopes of killing Coalition personnel or Iraqi contractors. “The obstacles we face in Iraq are certainly a lot different than in the United States. Knowing people want to kill you on the job makes you appreciate the typical work site back home. But, we have a job to do, and they will not keep us from accomplishing the mission,” he said.

For the Corps’ engineers, safety is always the top priority on construction sites, but in Iraq, safety means maintaining security 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Any time we work on a site, we are always concerned about terrorist attacks,” Bestgen said. “The former Ba’ath party members and the terrorists are not in favor of us rebuilding this country.”

During the construction, the 133rd Engineer Battalion from the Maine Army National Guard set up security around the Khazir Bridge. Fortunately, neither the workers nor soldiers were attacked during the renovations.

The day the bridge was reopened, Iraqis and Coalition personnel both celebrated.

“We are doing a lot of good things in this country,” Bestgen said. “This bridge is just one story of how we are rebuilding this country that was once ruled by a horrible dictator.”

More projects

Over the next year, USAID and the Corps will continue to rebuild infrastructure. USAID has earmarked $31.5 million to fix roads and bridges that officials say will help increase revenue in Iraq. 

“Our goal is to help the Iraqis increase trade through helping them with their transportation issues,” said Bob Davidson, USAID coordinator in northern Iraq. “As we are in the middle of the transition period, it’s really a tribute to the Iraqi people that they are repairing bridges and railways with the bigger picture in mind.”

Sergeant Fred Minnick is a Wisconsin Army National Guard soldier stationed in Mosul, Iraq, with the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

Reprinted from Better Roads Magazine
August 2004

Click Here to return to article index