"العراق والخليج الفارسي" [ظ‎‎٣‎٦‎٤] (٨٦٢/٧٣١)

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COMMUNICATIONS
Route [4]. Baghdad-Al Qaim
(Euphrates Road)
Distances in Miles
(40) Falluja. (55) Habbaniya. (72) Ramadi. (108) Hit. (133) Khan
Baghdadi. (159) Haditha. (195) Ana. (246) A 1 Qaim.
Principal Bridges
(2) Nahr Washash (Khir bridge), 50 yards, single span, steel
girders, brick abutments.
(40) Euphrates at Falluja, 300 yards, 5-span, steel girders on steel
concrete-filled cylinders (photo. 218).
(142) Wadi Hauran, 45 yards, 5-span, steel girders and concrete.
( j 56) Wadi Haqlan, 75 yards, 8-span, masonry viaduct.
( I 95 ) Wadi near Ana, 60 yards, 8-span, steel girders.
General Description
As far as Ramadi this road has a tarmac surface, but thereafter is
only metalled in places, chiefly from about mile 98 through Hit, and
from the I.P.C. post at Haditha about mile 155 through Haditha.
Elsewhere the road is only roughly made, but is fit for heavy motors.
The road leaves Baghdad by the Khir bridge on Route [2] (fig. 79).
There are many minor bridges and culverts between here and Ramadi;
also 16 bridges (besides the 3 listed above) over wadis which drain the
western desert; most of these are of masonry or concrete, but all are
not kept in good condition. The road is rarely interrupted by rain
for more than a few hours.
Route [5]. Baghdad-Mosul
(Tigris Road)
Distances in Miles
(76) Samarra R.S. (109) Tikrit R.S. (136) Baiji R.S. (185) Qala
Sharqat. (205) Qaiyara. (253) Mosul.
Bridges
I here are about 20 minor bridges but none are of first importance.
General Description
Except for the first 4 miles which is macadamized, and occasional
places where there is rough metalling, the road almost to Baiji has