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BAGHDAD - The Tigris River winds through the heart of Baghdad. For
centuries, it has provided life-sustaining water and enabled trade in
Mesopotamia.
The 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 225th Engineer Brigade, and
Iraqi Army engineers aim to complete a float bridge that will span the
banks of the river north of Baghdad by the beginning of September.Without the bridge, troops would have to take a route into the cities
late at night, a two hour trip, in order to support the rest of the
Brigade Combat Team on the west side of the river.
"Building this bridge helps reduce U.S. forces traffic in the city,"
said Lt. Col. Dave Dancer, operations officer for the 225th Engineer
Brigade. "It cuts travel time...one and a half hours."
The first step was to move 6,000 cubic yards of dirt, equivalent to 400
dump trucks' worth. Combat engineer, Sgt. Maj. James Reppond, explained
the near and far sides of the river needed huge amounts of dirt removed
in order for the Engineers to "build an area identically, with the same
elevation, same size, same everything where the actual bridge will go on
both sides of the river."
Next, heavy equipment operators, surveyors, combat engineers,
maintenance personnel and a security detail move in to do their
respective missions, usually until sundown.
Heavy equipment operator, Sgt. Thomas Pearson, said a high level
motivation gets Soldiers through long, hot, tiring days.
"Our work ethic means we will never miss a deadline," Pearson said. "If
you treat your Soldiers the right way, it gives them the right
motivation to succeed, no matter what the cost."
On the west side of the river, an area 14-by-94 foot wide had to be cut
and dirt removed in preparation for the bridge. On the east side,
another 8-by-100 foot wide area had to be removed. The dirt was then
used to make a road from the current access road to the new bridge. A
boat ramp also had to be made in order for the boats to be launched and
bridge pieces to be built and launched.
Compaction of the soil to support the bridge is the next step.
"Whenever we get ready to compact the soil, if you wet it before you run
your compactor over it, it will bind together and set up and be more
stable," Reppond explained.
Sgt. Adam Deluna, of San Antonio, Texas, is in charge of the dirt-moving
portion of the project. He said the Army engineer surveyors have the
difficult task of carrying equipment back and forth across the river.
"It's a tough job, bouncing around to give cut and fill grades, then
coming back to check," Deluna said. "The numbers are changing
constantly."
This is Deluna's second deployment. On the first deployment, he
completed a project similar to the one he is supervising now, just
further down the Tigris.
"This is my second time to have fun by the river," Deluna said with a
smile. "Anytime we get to do a big project we have fun. We've been
waiting on this project for over a month."
The depth and speed of the river's current, coupled with the nearly 20
foot drop off raised eyebrows when the engineers began the project. But
their professionalism and skill has so far kept the Soldiers safe as
they work on the banks of the river.
"Were there concerns? Yes. Difficulties? No," Pearson said. "The project
is easy because we have young Soldiers that are motivated, enthusiastic,
and want to see the finished product."
BAGHDAD - The Tigris River winds through the heart of Baghdad. For
centuries, it has provided life-sustaining water and enabled trade in
Mesopotamia.
The 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 225th Engineer Brigade, and
Iraqi Army engineers aim to complete a float bridge that will span the
banks of the river north of Baghdad by the beginning of September.Without the bridge, troops would have to take a route into the cities
late at night, a two hour trip, in order to support the rest of the
Brigade Combat Team on the west side of the river.
"Building this bridge helps reduce U.S. forces traffic in the city,"
said Lt. Col. Dave Dancer, operations officer for the 225th Engineer
Brigade. "It cuts travel time...one and a half hours."
The first step was to move 6,000 cubic yards of dirt, equivalent to 400
dump trucks' worth. Combat engineer, Sgt. Maj. James Reppond, explained
the near and far sides of the river needed huge amounts of dirt removed
in order for the Engineers to "build an area identically, with the same
elevation, same size, same everything where the actual bridge will go on
both sides of the river."
Next, heavy equipment operators, surveyors, combat engineers,
maintenance personnel and a security detail move in to do their
respective missions, usually until sundown.
Heavy equipment operator, Sgt. Thomas Pearson, said a high level
motivation gets Soldiers through long, hot, tiring days.
"Our work ethic means we will never miss a deadline," Pearson said. "If
you treat your Soldiers the right way, it gives them the right
motivation to succeed, no matter what the cost."
On the west side of the river, an area 14-by-94 foot wide had to be cut
and dirt removed in preparation for the bridge. On the east side,
another 8-by-100 foot wide area had to be removed. The dirt was then
used to make a road from the current access road to the new bridge. A
boat ramp also had to be made in order for the boats to be launched and
bridge pieces to be built and launched.
Compaction of the soil to support the bridge is the next step.
"Whenever we get ready to compact the soil, if you wet it before you run
your compactor over it, it will bind together and set up and be more
stable," Reppond explained.
Sgt. Adam Deluna, of San Antonio, Texas, is in charge of the dirt-moving
portion of the project. He said the Army engineer surveyors have the
difficult task of carrying equipment back and forth across the river.
"It's a tough job, bouncing around to give cut and fill grades, then
coming back to check," Deluna said. "The numbers are changing
constantly."
This is Deluna's second deployment. On the first deployment, he
completed a project similar to the one he is supervising now, just
further down the Tigris.
"This is my second time to have fun by the river," Deluna said with a
smile. "Anytime we get to do a big project we have fun. We've been
waiting on this project for over a month."
The depth and speed of the river's current, coupled with the nearly 20
foot drop off raised eyebrows when the engineers began the project. But
their professionalism and skill has so far kept the Soldiers safe as
they work on the banks of the river.
"Were there concerns? Yes. Difficulties? No," Pearson said. "The project
is easy because we have young Soldiers that are motivated, enthusiastic,
and want to see the finished product."
