A view of the new Rustimiyah land bridge from the old bridge, Feb. 28

DVIDS
By Staff Sgt. Sean Riley, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

The rusty remains of a temporary steel bridge were removed from over the Diyala River, Feb. 28, after the opening of the new Rustimiyah Bridge.

The 74th Engineer Company, from Fort Hood, Texas, stationed at Balad Air Base, recovered a prefabricated Mabey Johnson bridge which was elevated several feet above the surface of the old Rustimiyah bridge. The structure was a temporary solution to a hole from a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device blast last May.

In less than a year, the government of Iraq funded and constructed a new land bridge to span the river, connecting Jisr Diyala and Baghdad. It was opened for public use after a ceremony and a parade Feb. 22.

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