ShaneClapper.com

By Kendal Smith
U.S. Army Corps of EngineersBAGHDAD — Traffic is moving again across Al-Anbar province’s strategic and essential Mujarrah Canal Bridge, 35 kilometers southwest of Fallujah. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Gulf Region Central District restored the bridge through a $1.26 million project completed and officially opened, June 8.

The bridge is a critical link in the supply route of sand and gravel trucks transiting the area for building growth in a more secure Fallujah, according to USACE’s Fallujah Resident Office project engineers who managed the construction.

Iraqi Engineer Mohannad said the bridge is vital to travelers as well as military in this remote provincial area. Originally built by the Chinese in 1983, the eastern bridge span collapsed after a 2007 vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack.

With the span destroyed, the resulting alternate routes over the canal by way of earthen dams were cumbersome and frequently inaccessible because of canal flows between Lake Habbaniyah to the north and south to Lake Razazah.

The Mujarrah canal connecting the two lakes is an important source of irrigation flow for farmlands in Anbar province, but is not easily traversed because of its unusual depth.

“Everyone in Multi-National Force - West is glad to have the bridge opened,” said Marine Capt. Michael Vanderweide, the 223rd Engineer Platoon commander. “It will help get convoys through here and is much safer than having them go through the town in a bypass route. [It] makes a significant difference for all concerned.”

The interest in the USACE project began in 2008 when the Mujarrah Shaykh met with Fallujah Resident Office (FRO) officials and Marines on several occasions. Through a unique consultation effort, then FRO officer in charge, Cmdr. Larry Wooster, asked for advice from his civilian office back at the California Department of Transportation, where Wooster works as a structural engineer. The CDOT’s insightful recommendations helped the project develop to a successful construction conclusion.

Another USACE bridge expert and former Fallujah RO OIC, Maj. James Benning, left in May 2009, just missing the completion.

The current FRO OIC for the ceremony, Navy Lt. Christopher Allen, said, “My predecessor, Maj. Benning, would have loved to see this bridge opened up again, as an important supply route, but also to make life easier for all the Iraqis in the area. It’s good for everybody.”

As Iraq strives to build a secure, stable and self-governing nation, the USACEs’ Gulf Region Division has completed hundreds of projects in the transportation and communication sector. Since 2004, USACE has completed 249 village road projects and currently has 20 ongoing.