Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071126-10
November 26, 2007

Iraqi, Coalition Forces engineers repair Tigris River Bridge
Multi-National Division – North PAO

MOSUL, Iraq – The Qayyarah Bridge, which spans the Tigris River in Iraq’s Nineveh Province, was repaired and opened to traffic just three days after a section was destroyed by a truck bomb Nov. 23.

“Al-Qaeda is dedicated to destroying Iraq, but Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces are dedicated to helping Iraq move forward,” said Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commander of Multi-National Division – North.  “Our brothers in the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police will do everything in their power to counter the harm that AQI is doing to the Iraqi people.  The 61 hours it took to rebuild the Qayyarah Bridge after enemy forces destroyed it is an example of how we are only dedicated to the forward momentum of Iraq.” 

Repairs to the bridge began within 48 hours of the bombing. Working through the night, the Iraqi and Coalition Forces Engineers repaired the span in just over 12 hours.
 
The bridge, which is more than 400 meters in length, is a major part of the economic and social infrastructure in the province.  It also serves to connect the main routes between Mosul in the north and Baghdad to the south. 

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