Blackanthem Military News

Shirwan Aran, a cultural advisor assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, speaks with local residents in northwest Baghdad where new 11kV underground feeders are being installed to provide more reliable electrical power. (USACE photo)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing more than $50 million in essential service projects in northwest Baghdad. Water and sewer lines are being repaired, roads paved, and electrical distribution networks upgraded under contracts USACE is managing.

“And that’s just a portion of the work being carried out there,” said Lt. Col. Glen Masset, commander of the U.S. Army’s 9th Engineer Battalion, who keeps track of all ongoing work in his battlespace. Baghdad city government (Amanat), United States Agency for International Development, the Provincial Reconstruction Team, and 9th Engineer Brigade are all sponsoring projects to help the Iraqi people. “Our top priority is ensuring the Iraqi government is in the lead on all this work as it strives to improve the lives of families there with functioning water and sewer lines, electricity, fuel, and an economy generating jobs.”

USACE project engineer Dr. William Deleo visited the area with the 9th Engineers Sept. 8. “It’s great to see the various improvements taking place,” he said. “Iraqi construction crews are hard at work. Families there are seeing firsthand that their government is functioning and things are getting better. They’re all hoping for a better tomorrow and these are all steps leading to that goal.”

Note:  Norris Jones is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Gulf Region Central district, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iraq.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

New 11kV underground feeders are being installed in portions of northwest Baghdad to provide more reliable electrical power to that area.

Sgt. 1st Class Mendez J. Frith, Bravo Battery 9th Engineer Battalion, enjoys a brief chat with neighborhood youngsters while checking on a variety of essential service projects in northwest Baghdad. (USACE photo)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 at 3:41 AM and is filed under Iraq Up Dates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.