Hamad Hamood, governor of Salah Ad Din, along side military and U.S. Agency for International Development officials cut the ribbon during a ceremony which celebrated the re-opening of the Tikrit Bridge on Sept. 22. (Photo by Sgt. Roland G. Walters, 196th MPAD)

TIKRIT, Iraq ‑‑ More than a year after it was destroyed by coalition forces, American and Iraqi officials re-opened the Tikrit Bridge during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning.

The cities of Tikrit and Kirkuk will once again be linked and they stand to benefit financially from the bridge, said James Stephenson, mission director of U.S. Agency for International Development. His organization was tasked with repairing the Tikrit Bridge and three others in Iraq.

“Tikrit and Kirkuk are historic cities, and this bridge rejoins the two,” Stevenson said. “Most importantly, it rejoins the people and opens the way for commerce.”

Col. Randall Dragon of the 1^st Infantry Division echoed similar sentiments. He said the bridge will allow the citizens of the Salah Ad Din Province to prosper for decades to come.

Col. Randall Dragon, commander of 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, presents James Stephenson, mission director for U.S. Agency for International Development, with a certificate of appreciation during the ceremony celebrating the re-opening of the Tikrit Bridge on Sept. 22. (Photo by Sgt. Roland G. Walters, 196th MPAD)

“It was determination, will power and energy that got us to this day, and it will be determination and will power that will move this country forward,” he said.

The 1^st ID provided security and other services while workers repaired the bridge.

The Tikrit Bridge, which stretches over the Tigris River, was bombed by coalition forces shortly after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began in March 2003. Soon after that, it was on the verge of collapsing and two partial spans later fell into the river, according to USAID.

In August 2003 USAID hired Bechtel National Inc., which subcontracted with 77 Construction Company, an Iraqi firm, to repair the bridge. The project cost about $5.4 million, Stevenson said. (Story by Spc. Ismail Turay Jr., 196^th MPAD)