Golden spike finishes Iraq's national highway

TALLIL AIR BASE, IRAQ

12.20.2004

Courtesy Story

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Story by Spc. Crista M. Birmingham,

TALLIL, Iraq -- On May 10, 1869, the world's first transcontinental railroad was joined in Promontory Point, Utah, with the ceremonial driving of a golden spike into a final link of railroad track.

One-hundred thirty-five years later, Dec. 5, 2004, Iraq's only national highway was completed in homage of that historical event with a ceremonial driving of a golden spike, this time, into a final center piece of asphalt.

Since Main Supply Route Tampa, also called Highway or Expressway One, was completed by a combined effort of Coalition and Iraq Forces, representatives of Iraq and the coalition performed the road completion ceremony. Maj. Gen. Walter Natynczyk, deputy commander of the Multi-National Corps -- Iraq, hammered the railroad spike into the center of the pavement with a representative of Iraq's Ministry of Housing and Construction.

"This is a significant milestone in Iraqi and Coalition cooperation which literally and figuratively paves the way for all Iraqis," Natynzcyk said.

According to Col. Ed Willis, commander, 115th Engineer Group, Utah National Guard, the hammering of the spike also honored the home state of the unit. The 115th Engineers were tasked with completion of the highway in March, 2004.

"It's also a demonstration of the cooperation between the Coalition Forces and the Iraqi people," Willis announced to Iraqi, U.S., Italian, and various forces present for the event.

"The completion of this paving mission forges a vital link in the improvement of Iraq's national infrastructure," Natynczyk said "This effort [paving of MSR Tampa] started about 30 years ago, but it was delayed due to years of conflict and an oppressive regime."

Prior to the paving project, 143 kilometers of the 1020 kilometer road were unpaved. The U.S. Army adopted the project in cooperation with Iraq in Nov, 2003. Now, at least one lane of asphalt covers the center of Iraq from the northern borders of Turkey and Syria to the southern border of the Persian Gulf. According to the Iraqi representative, due to difficulties such as the war with Iran, the Gulf War, and issues Saddam had with people of the area, the road construction was never completed.

"It was a very difficult situation. No asphalt plant worked, no machinery. But we had courage to finish with support of Coalition Forces," he said.

"Before this was laid down, there were head-on collisions and roll-overs all the time, and the dust was unreal," said Sgt. Robert Davis, gunner, 115th Eng. "It used to take us eight hours to get from [Tallil] to Scania. Now we can do it in two and a half."
The road pavement project involved much more than setting asphalt on the ground; aside from the dangerous conditions of the war and roadside bandits, there were no working asphalt plants to produce the materials needed. Many contributed to the effort, and worked together to come out of the dust into a new century with an adequate main transportation route. The project was funded by Commanders Emergency Response Program [CERP] funds and Iraqi Reconstruction Relief Funds [IRRF]. Iraqis and Coalition Forces shipped bituman, the naturally occurring tar used successfully for more than 6,000 years in the fertile crescent, and processed it and worked together to pave the road.

"Missions that supported the construction were security at the work-sites and the asphalt plants, road base prep, shoulder finishing, raw material haul, finished asphalt haul, maintenance support at the asphalt plants, and parts and equipment for the plants," said Maj. Lynn Hinckley, unit historian, 115th Eng. Gp.

Security of the project was assisted by the Iraqi Highway Patrol, a police unit headed by Major Ali from Nasariyah. The highway patrol is the first police unit in Iraq specifically trained to keep MSR Tampa safe from insurgents and other criminal elements. They were trained by the 230th Military Police Company, 95th MP Battalion, 16th MP Brigade, out of Manheim, Germany, and regularly assisted by the 115th Eng. Gp.

The 115th Eng. Gp. includes members of the Utah National Guard, as well as the 1140th Eng. Combat Bn. [ECB], Mississippi National Guard; 258th Combat Support Equipment Co. [CSE], Arizona National Guard; 116th CSE, Bridge A/6 ESB Marines; 277th Combat Support Co. and 1438th Multi-Role Bridge Com., Mississippi.

"Due to the hard work and determination of Iraqi and Coalition leaders, Soldiers and skilled tradesmen, all the contractors who overcame all the setbacks caused by these years of war, this final stretch between Diwaniyah and Tallil is finally complete," Natynczyk said.

Natynczyk thanked all Iraqi workers who risked their lives daily paving the lanes, running the asphalt plants and Major Ali's Highway Patrol.

"The true heroes of this project are the citizens of Iraq who have dedicated so much of themselves to make this a success," he said. "May all those who travel on this highway reach their destination safely. I know they will appreciate your sacrifices and your efforts."

"For years, this unpaved area was a dangerous route for Iraqis and Coalition Forces," Natynczyk said. "There have been many accidents, injuries and deaths, and so this first lane of pavement will improve greatly the safety of this road. But this road will also reflect the cooperation between the Coalition, the Iraqi Security Forces and the Iraqi government. In conclusion, the completion of this road is a huge success."

According to Willis, even with this completion there is still much work to be done. "There are still other lanes to be built. This is not the end of the road, but the beginning."

Although the spike has been driven into the pavement, the road construction will continue.

Like the historical golden spike at Promontory Point, the golden spike in the completely paved MSR Tampa represents the joining of cultures and advances in transportation.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2004
• Date Posted: 12.20.2004 11:36
• Story ID: 734
• Location: TALLIL AIR BASE, IQ