CAMP ADDER – The Rutbah Bridge, a key link between Iraq and Jordan damaged by terrorist attack, is now operational again thanks to a dedicated group of Soldiers here.

Bravo Company, 141st Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team has worked on the Rutbah Bridge on Main Service Route Mobile near Camp Adder for two years. The bridge recently reopened well ahead of schedule thanks to the hard work of the dedicated Soldiers involved. 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team photo.

The exceptional efforts of Bravo Company, 141st Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team in opening the bridge benefits not only the Iraqi people but also supports the convoy security mission of Task Force Atlas, 41st IBCT.  

While the structure was being repaired it was basically unusable, requiring convoys to take a more dangerous route, according to 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Swanby, 41st IBCT.  She said the damaged bridge caused significant delays in traffic, to include the flow of oil tanker trucks and humanitarian relief supplies.

Working on the project for more than two years, the Bravo Company troops remained motivated to re-establish this safer route for their fellow Soldiers.

Once complete, the next task was to have the bridge properly inspected before granting access to the general population, Swanby said.

"Task Force Atlas commander, Lt. Col. Brian James, and Soldiers from B Company escorted and assisted the Army Corps of Engineers in conducting several route reconnaissance missions in assessing the stability of the structure," she said.

Swanby said Bravo Company also provided feedback and data to the 41st IBCT through pictures, detailed analytical reports and meetings with local Iraqi officials.