A new bridge built by British engineers at an important crossing point over the main canal in Garmsir, southern Helmand province, has been opened by Lieutenant General Peter Wall, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operations).
Crossing the canal, which feeds water into the irrigation system around Garmsir, the bridge replaces an older bridge built by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2007. This bridge was never intended to be permanent as it was for military, not civilian, use and, not being suitable for civilian traffic, required regular maintenance.
The new bridge is a huge 37-metre-long construction, weighing in at nearly 70 tonnes, and is more than capable of carrying loads in excess of 60 tonnes. It will better suit civilian vehicles, will last for years, and require a minimum of maintenance.
Located at the eastern end of Darvishan, it provides access for the large civilian population of the area (around 35,000) to the thriving bazaar, district hospital and school, and will improve their freedom of movement throughout the area.
Building the bridge was a huge logistical undertaking; around 30 soldiers from 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron, based in Hohne in Germany, were responsible for both the design and build of the bridge.
Read the full article here
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment