DUSHANBE , March 13, Asia-Plus - The United States will include Border Police barracks, administrative buildings, dining facilities, drive-through scanner buildings, and customs offices at both ends of the Tajik-Afghan Bridge across the Panj River . 

According to information from the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe , the $7.75 million addition to the project will be designed and built by the contractor Technologists, Inc., with the oversight of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The project will be completed well before completion of the bridge, allowing Tajik officials to occupy the facilities and be ready for incoming travelers from the very first day of bridge operations. 

The Afghanistan-Tajikistan bridge is a symbol of the United States commitment to seeing Tajikistan play an increasingly important role in regional trade, stability, and development.  The bridge will connect Sher Khan Bandar, Afghanistan , and Panji Poyon , Tajikistan , allowing increased commerce and people-to-people connections between the two countries.  The bridge is a key element of the infrastructure that will promote trade and commerce by road from Almaty to the international port at Karachi , Pakistan .

As it had been reported earlier, the length of the bridge across the Panj River is 672 meters, and the width is 11.6 meters. The bridge is expected to transport more than 1,000 cars daily.  The bridge is expected to open in mid-2007.