
By 2Lt Alexander Barb
First published in
SFOR Informer#103, December 20,
2000
Lopare - With accuracy, the crane puts down a heavy steel
piece. It comes to complete the existing structure, as in a Meccano
game, building up the bridge.
Twenty-three American engineers from the A Company at Eagle Base, 12
Russians who belong to the 1st Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne
Brigade (PRSAB) from Priboj and 10 soldiers from the 3rd Corps VRS (Republika
Srpska Army) gathered their efforts to upgrade the bridge that stretches
across the Mackovac river. Now, it can hold up to 70 tons.
"The
project is made under request of the CIMIC who wanted to upgrade the
bridge capability. It is located on Kansas Route which is much used
by local truck companies," said US 1Lt. John Hiltz, the executive
officer in charge of the project. "It will also improve our capability
to carry out missions, and the lives for the civilians."
Technically,
the engineers added a third row of panels on each side to upgrade the
strength of the Bailey bridge. That same bridge was inaugurated at the
end of August by other engineers from the same nations. (See SFOR Informer
Number 95).
"It's not the first nor the last joint project that we make with
the Americans. At the moment, we have soldiers working on a joint project
to repair two kilometres of road near the village of Trsich. The project
should end by the nineteenth of December," said Russian Capt. Sergei
Pavlukov, deputy commander of the engineer platoon.
"Last
week, we met American 1Lt. Tim Donoghue (leader of the engineering platoon).
We discussed and planned the works," he added.
"All is going the right way and we should reach the end this afternoon,"
said Donoghue.
Related link:
Nations of SFOR: Russia, US
Engineering - Bridges