"العراق والخليج الفارسي" [ظ‎‎٣‎٦‎٨] (٨٦٢/٧٣٩)

COMMUNICATIONS
574
Principal Bridges
(14) Bastura Chai, 38 yards, 4-span, concrete.
(65) Rubar-i-Ruwandiz, 45 yards, single Hopkins span, steel truss
(photo. 227).
(66) Rubar-i-Balikian, 43 yards, 2-span, steel truss.
(82) Rubar-i-Ruwandiz, near Berserini, 50 yards, single Hopkins
span, steel truss.
(84) Rubar-i-Ruwandiz at Razanok, 50 yards, as that near Ber
serini.
General Description
The road, completed in 1932, took four years to build, and sur
mounts great natural obstacles. It has an asphalt surface and well-
cambered bends, and is strongly bridged throughout, but there are
hairpin bends at the Pirmum pass (16), Shaqlawa (32), and the
Spilik pass (54) (photo. 221). The road enters the narrow Gali Ali Beg
(or Khalifan gorge) at mile 61 and follows the Alana Su almost to its
junction with the Rubar-i-Ruwandiz, crossing three times by single
span bridges (photo. 223). It then follows the bottom of the Ruwandiz
gorge but crosses to the right bank at mile 65 and the Balikian tributary
1 1 miles farther on. At mile 70 a short road goes left to the military
station of Diana. Ruwandiz town is about 3 miles off the main road
and is reached by a branch which crosses the Rubar-i-Ruwandiz by
a steel bridge 12 yards long. The Berserini gorge is penetrated be
tween miles 79 and 85, but the road is very enclosed for another 7
miles. Rayat police post is 6 miles from the Persian border at the
Gowre Shinke pass (photo. 226). The road continues on into Persia
through Urmia to Tabriz.
Route [10]. Mosul-Aqra
(Aqra Road)
Distances in Miles
(28) Mindan. (59) Aqra.
General Description
This road is only metalled in places, and though easily passable for
heavy motors in fine weather, and provided with bridges and culverts,
becomes impassable after rain, particularly across the Jujar plain.
The Khazir Su is crossed near Mindan at mile 27 by a 2-span Hopkins
bridge, 84 yards, on concrete abutments and pier.