Friday, September 9
IRAQI COURTHOUSE REBUILT BY ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
| Al Qurnah, Iraq – The addition of new generators, construction of restroom facilities, woodworking, and installation of tile floors, inclusion of air conditioners, and significant roof work, in addition to an the addition of an exterior building in which security force personnel could reside – all were features incorporated in the Al Qurnah House of Justice renovations recently completed. At the ribbon cutting ceremony recently, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Gulf Region South (GRD) Basrah Resident Engineer Robert Vanoer said, “Our Iraqi engineers, contractor and work crew have done an exemplary job on this project which was made all the more difficult in that the facility was never closed for business and work had to all be completed with a minimum of disruption to these individuals.” Participating in the event – along with one an Iraqi judge who cut the ceremonial ribbon – were Tom Eidson, GRS Basrah Area Engineer, and Leah Bott, GRS Construction Representative. Prior to this project, the courthouse was in less-than-satisfactory shape. Nearly three decades of lack of attention, maintenance, and upkeep under the former Hussein regime had taken a significant toll of the facility. “Now,” said Eidson, “area residents may again have pride in their House of Justice – particularly in that the preponderance of the renovation work was coordinated, overseen, and completed by many who may have actual need to utilize the judicial services that it provides.” This project is one of many reconstruction efforts being completed by GRS. This district has facilitated new structure construction or existing building rehabilitation on 309 of 355 schools; is presently working on 60 medical clinics with another 21 projected, and has completed three hospitals while working on nine more. The GRS district has completed six of 45 oil-related projects, 23 of 64 border forts, four of 12 courthouses or prisons, seven of 16 Iraqi military projects, 19 of 29 fire stations, and 121 of 198 police stations. Additionally, this Corps team is working on four airports, three bridges, has completed three of seven port projects and finished 3,767 miles of roads. In water projects, they have finished one of two irrigation efforts, a wastewater treatment facility, 22 of 25 water distribution projects, and 26 of 28 water treatment plants. |
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