AL KHIDR — After 25 years of neglect, this community with a population of 50,000 has received a boost to its quality of life with the opening of a new covered pedestrian bridge.

The bridge, spanning the Euphrates River and linking both sides of this city in Muthanna province, was dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Aug. 18.

The construction of the $360,000, 132-meter long bridge was managed by the South District of the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers here.

“This bridge will provide a critical service to Al Khidr residents who suffered for a long time from the old, unsafe and unreliable pontoons bridge,” said Kamil Majhool Nino, deputy director general of Muthanna Roads and Bridges. “We consider this project the start for more projects for this area. Together we will build this country.”

In his opening speech, Muthanna’s Governor, Ibrahim Salman Al Mayali, said he was delighted to be there standing among his people and friends to open the bridge project that connects the two banks of the Euphrates River.

“Thanks to our friends the Provincial Reconstruction Team and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their support in building and completing this project and other projects which directly benefit the people of this province,” Mayali said.

The idea for this bridge was first proposed by the Provincial Reconstruction Development Committee in 2007 as a way to aid the community by linking two sides of the city with a safe pathway for pedestrians.

“The committee recognized the difficulties and hazards the citizens of Al Khidr endured to simply cross this river,” said Muthanna PRT Lead John Kuschner. “This footbridge will now make crossing the river routine, safe and easy.”

Although safety and convenience are very important, Kuschner said there were other factors considered in the design of the bridge.

“The committee also had the foresight to include a water pipe and a conduit for electrical wiring in the design of the bridge to improve the standard of living of people on both sides of the river,” said Kuschner. “So this bridge now provides multiple benefits to thousands of citizens in this city and its surrounding area.”

Maj. Sinlan Morrow, a PRT engineer and member of GRD’s South district, said the pedestrian bridge may not have happened without the persistence of the Iraqi contractor and local leaders and officials.

“This project would not be possible without the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Team for identifying the need and funding the requirement; the local leaders and government officials for their support and oversight; Logal Company for Commerce Constructing, for their commitment to meet their contractual obligations, and to our team of Iraqi engineers for project quality assurance,” Morrow said.

“What is important to learn from this is that there was a commitment by one local Iraqi company, that said that they could do it – and they did just that,” said Morrow continued.

“This bridge is obviously an impressive feat of engineering, but it is also an excellent example of what can be accomplished when the elected officials from Muthanna work together with the PRT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and implement much-needed projects on behalf of the citizens of this province,” said Kuschner.