MOSUL, Iraq - City council leaders and Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces opened the final phase of the Tal Abtha Road Project, located southwest of Mosul in Ninewa Province, with a ribbon cutting ceremony July 7.
This ceremony symbolizes the progress made towards improving Iraq's infrastructure and quality of life for the local population.
Divided into three phases, the TARP is a 13.1 million dollar project that currently employs 730 Iraqis from the local population along with 50 sub-contractors, instructors and security guards in the area.
Each phase of the road project trains and hires a new class of 365 students plus security and subcontractors. Phase one of the road construction was completed on May 24. Phase two is ongoing and will run concurrently with phase three.
Upon its completion in November, Tal Abtha Road will be a major road connecting the towns of Qayyarah and Tal Abtha to the Mosul-to-Baghdad highway. Currently no road through the area exists.
This important essential services project provides temporary employment and schooling to jobless men in the area and teaches them road construction skills that will allow them increased employment opportunities in the future.
After graduating from the road construction program, these local men will be able to apply for grants to build feeder roads linking their nearby villages directly to Tal Abtha Road creating more employment for the area. Plans for three feeder roads to villages north of Tal Abtha Road have already been coordinated and grants are awaiting approval.
The project is a joint effort between the director general of roads and bridges, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, and 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces have provided security and support throughout the entire project.
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