Shafaq News-Saladin
Rising water levels in Diyala's Hamrin Dam reservoir prevented the reopening of Al-Zarka Bridgein Saladin on the road linking Tuz Khurmatu and Tikrit, Saladin Provincial Councilstated on Sunday.
A technicalcommittee inspected the bridge to assess its condition and identify obstaclespreventing the restoration of traffic. The committee found that the risingreservoir had submerged both the damaged bridge and the adjacent dirt road,making it impossible to reopen the route through the temporary road or carryout backfilling work in the flooded area.
The committeerecommended using the Al-Adhaim Dam road or the Tikrit-Kirkuk road as temporaryalternatives until a replacement bridge is completed and the route ispermanently reopened, ensuring public safety and maintaining traffic flowbetween Tuz Khurmatu and Saladin's provincial capital.
In February, the collapse of Al-Zarka Bridge, compounded byheavy rainfall and flash floods, disrupted the main route linking Tuz Khurmatuand Amerli with Tikrit. Authoritieslater opened a temporary dirt road, but rising water levels repeatedlysubmerged the crossing, forcing travelers to take lengthy alternative routes.
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