PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Panjshir Reconstruction Team members, Local villagers from the Anaba District and their Community Development Council members are working on restoring a retaining wall near Froj Bridge.
The bridge, which has served as the only access point to Darban Pass and the rest of the province for more than 50 years, provides transportation to more than 6,000 families. It is also the only direct link between Kapisa and Panjshir provinces.
“With the number of families affected if the bridge becomes inaccessible, we knew it was an urgent need,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Hakan Togul, a Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team, Civil Affairs leader and Crete, Ill., native. “While thinking of a permanent fix for the situation, we came up with an idea to take rock debris deposited in the center of the river from the floods, and temporarily place it along the edges of the river to keep the retaining wall upright.”
The deteriorating wall protects the Froj Bridge which collapsed more than 10 years ago during the Soviet’s attempted invasion of Panjshir province.
“Col. Rajab Khan (then, Lt. Col.), helped rebuild the bridge to support the Mujahedeen fighting the Russians,” Togul said. “With his own money, and the support of the villagers, the bridge was rebuilt in two days.”
Years later, Khan, the Operations Control Center-Provincial commander, pointed out the retaining-wall instability to the PRT, out of concern it would not hold through spring floods.
The project’s original cost was about $20,000, but using existing resources reduced the cost to $5,000. The remaining funds will be used to replace the retaining wall.
“I’m glad they took it upon themselves to begin the restoration of the wall,” said Togul. “Had we waited, it would have cost more money to repair the bridge’s pylons and the escalated damage to the banks of the river.”
The local CDC and villagers took responsibility for repairing the bridge finishing a once large-scale project, on a much smaller budget.
“This shows their capacity to provide their own solutions have improved greatly,” added Togul.
“I’m very happy the PRT helped us rejuvenate this old wall and bridge,” said Khan. “The bridge, once used by the Mujahedeen to defeat the Soviets, is a vital part of the history of Panjshir, still being used today by the people of Anaba and others all over Afghanistan traveling to and from Panjshir.”
| Date Taken: |
04.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
04.19.2011 17:25 |
| Story ID: |
68996 |
| Location: |
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
142 |
| Downloads: |
1 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, PRT, locals restore Panjshir bridge retaining wall, by SSgt Amber Ashcraft, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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