thedrifter
10-06-03, 08:03 PM
Driving Force of Bagram, Disney Gets Face Lift
http://www.defendamerica.mil/images/photos/oct2003/articles/ai100603e1.jpg
An Afghani worker loads sand and gravel into a mixer in preparation for paving Disney Drive, the two-mile road that stretches the length of Bagram Air Base. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Wes Landrum
By U.S. Army Spc. Wes Landrum / Coalition Joint Task Force 180
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – A massive repaving effort has begun on Disney Drive, the two-mile stretch of pavement between the Marine compound and the front gate at Bagram Air Base.
“The scope of work called for three to four months to complete,” said Staff Sgt. James Bagnell, 416 th Engineers Command. “Now, with the way the company is moving, I would say they should be done in another four weeks, weather permitting.”
According to Bagnell, more than 50 local nationals file in the gate every day to work on the road. He said the local people hired to repave Disney have never missed a day since they started on the road.
“The company that we hired to repave the road hired local workers,” he said. “They've kept the same workers,” Bagnell added saying that the consistency has helped in the pavement project and has “given a boost to the local economy.”
The team began construction North of the Marine compound and has worked their way up to almost “four corners”, the center of Bagram, in a relatively short time. “Jake”, an interpreter, said the men work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“The men are working hard to get the road fixed,” he said. “They work [diligently] and they are getting the job done.”
The pavement project has given the local nationals a couple of bumps and bruise, but this hasn't deterred from them accomplishing the job.
“A few [men] have burns on their hands,” Bagnell said, “[However], they can still work.”
Another thing makes the pavement project significant is the road is being done entirely by hand.
According to “Jake” they have five mixers that mix dirt and rocks into asphalt. When the asphalt is mixed, the workers dump it into wheelbarrels and dump it into a waiting dump truck.
“It normally takes four wheelbarrel loads from each mixer to fill up the truck,” he said. “From there, it goes to the road.”
Bagnell said they average about a quarter-mile a day. Sometimes, they go farther depending on how fast the workers get the asphalt from the mixers. Bagnell praised the workers for a job well done so far.
“They've done amazing work,” he said. “To build this road entirely by hand says something about their work ethic. It's been flawless so far.”
“Jake” said the praise goes directly to the coalition forces here in Afghanistan. He said they are the driving force for them being here in the first place.
“If it wasn't for them driving out the Taliban,” he said. “We would not be here paving the road. We work hard because this is our way of saying ‘thanks' for all they've done for our people.”
http://www.defendamerica.mil/images/photos/oct2003/articles/ai100603e2.jpg
Jake" the interpreter instructs workers as they place asphalt on Disney Drive, the two-mile road that stretches the length of Bagram Air Base. The workers are paving out the road entirely by hand. U.S. Army photo Spc. Wes Landrum
http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/oct2003/a100603e.html
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
http://www.defendamerica.mil/images/photos/oct2003/articles/ai100603e1.jpg
An Afghani worker loads sand and gravel into a mixer in preparation for paving Disney Drive, the two-mile road that stretches the length of Bagram Air Base. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Wes Landrum
By U.S. Army Spc. Wes Landrum / Coalition Joint Task Force 180
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – A massive repaving effort has begun on Disney Drive, the two-mile stretch of pavement between the Marine compound and the front gate at Bagram Air Base.
“The scope of work called for three to four months to complete,” said Staff Sgt. James Bagnell, 416 th Engineers Command. “Now, with the way the company is moving, I would say they should be done in another four weeks, weather permitting.”
According to Bagnell, more than 50 local nationals file in the gate every day to work on the road. He said the local people hired to repave Disney have never missed a day since they started on the road.
“The company that we hired to repave the road hired local workers,” he said. “They've kept the same workers,” Bagnell added saying that the consistency has helped in the pavement project and has “given a boost to the local economy.”
The team began construction North of the Marine compound and has worked their way up to almost “four corners”, the center of Bagram, in a relatively short time. “Jake”, an interpreter, said the men work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“The men are working hard to get the road fixed,” he said. “They work [diligently] and they are getting the job done.”
The pavement project has given the local nationals a couple of bumps and bruise, but this hasn't deterred from them accomplishing the job.
“A few [men] have burns on their hands,” Bagnell said, “[However], they can still work.”
Another thing makes the pavement project significant is the road is being done entirely by hand.
According to “Jake” they have five mixers that mix dirt and rocks into asphalt. When the asphalt is mixed, the workers dump it into wheelbarrels and dump it into a waiting dump truck.
“It normally takes four wheelbarrel loads from each mixer to fill up the truck,” he said. “From there, it goes to the road.”
Bagnell said they average about a quarter-mile a day. Sometimes, they go farther depending on how fast the workers get the asphalt from the mixers. Bagnell praised the workers for a job well done so far.
“They've done amazing work,” he said. “To build this road entirely by hand says something about their work ethic. It's been flawless so far.”
“Jake” said the praise goes directly to the coalition forces here in Afghanistan. He said they are the driving force for them being here in the first place.
“If it wasn't for them driving out the Taliban,” he said. “We would not be here paving the road. We work hard because this is our way of saying ‘thanks' for all they've done for our people.”
http://www.defendamerica.mil/images/photos/oct2003/articles/ai100603e2.jpg
Jake" the interpreter instructs workers as they place asphalt on Disney Drive, the two-mile road that stretches the length of Bagram Air Base. The workers are paving out the road entirely by hand. U.S. Army photo Spc. Wes Landrum
http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/oct2003/a100603e.html
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: