Iraqi commuters have a new route to take in the Zafaraniyah neighborhood of eastern Baghdad as Furniture Road opened for public transportation Aug. 7, 2008.

Motorists and pedestrians now have access to Furniture Road thanks to the combined efforts of Iraqi local government officials, contractors and Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Multi-National Davison – Baghdad.

The addition of Furniture Road, which spans just a few kilometers, opens a major conduit for the people in Zafaraniyah, said Capt. Sean O’Brien, effects coordinator for 5th Bn., 25th FA Regt.

“This is going to be an explosion of economic development here as more people come down and buy their supplies and equipment down this road from the market area,” said Master Sgt. David Stewart, Company B, 418th Civil Affairs Battalion.

Contractors have been working on the project for a couple months. The opening of Furniture Road signifies an important step toward improving the levels of governance, economics and security in the area, explained O’Brien.

“It might seem silly that one road could mean that much, but it does,” commented O’Brien.

The new road will offer residents a way to get to places that would have been more challenging before, and do so with more speed and ease, he explained. Other benefits include more businesses projected to open along Furniture Road.

In addition to the new road opening, Iraqi and MND-B officials have initiated efforts to clean up the area and make improvements to the sewage lines running near the road to help improve the economic conditions in that area, said O’Brien, adding that he is very happy with the end results of the road construction and hopes the people in Zafaraniyah will be too.

“The road is beautiful now,” expressed O’Brien. Where there was once a dirt road, there is now an asphalt road for local commuters to travel on.

Project officials consulted the Zafaraniyah Neighborhood Council about where opening such a road was most needed in the area, he explained. The results seemed positive as moments before the road opening area residents formed a line to use Furniture Road.

“I feel really good about this,” said O’Brien. “I really love this, seeing local civics in action, and I really love seeing opportunities taken to give something back to a very deserving people.”

DVIDS
By Sgt. Grant Okubo
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs Office