BEIRUT, Feb 7: The United States and Iran are among foreign contributors to the $85 million reconstruction of 90 bridges in Lebanon destroyed or damaged by Israel last year.

With the US due to contribute more than $20 million to reconstruct a bridge on the Beirut-Damascus highway, Iran has offered $3 million to rebuild 17 bridges.

Direct material damage to housing and infrastructure in Lebanon during Israel's 34-day war on Hezbollah in July-August 2006 has been put at $3.6 billion.

About 20 bridges were destroyed and some 70 others damaged.

Almost six months after the war ended on Aug 14 with a UN-brokered ceasefire, 21 bridges have been repaired. Several more are under reconstruction and another 10 are awaiting the start of rebuilding work.

“It is a very delicate situation, because some of the targeted bridges are vital roadways for local and international transport on the Beirut-Damascus road,” said Elias Helou, the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) state official in charge of the bridge-rebuilding project.

The US Agency for International Development is financing the reconstruction of the Mdairej bridge, the highest in the Middle East.

The 70-metre-high bridge was hit on July 21. A 220-metre-long section was destroyed.

“Its rehabilitation will take about two and a half years and will cost more than $20 million,” said Helou, adding that a US firm would reconstruct the bridge originally built in 1998 at a cost of $56 million.

Iran is due to pay for work on 17 bridges in south, east and north of the country.Other donors include Saudi Arabia, Italy and Greece as well as Lebanese individuals and companies.

Among the local donors is the family of the late billionaire and prime minister Rafiq Hariri, which has pledged to rebuild 22 bridges.

The Casino Du Liban has offered $3 million to fund the rebuilding of a bridge north of Beirut, with the work being undertaken by French firm Fressynet International and a Lebanese partner.

Immediately after the war the authorities, with the help of France, Britain and Russia, installed temporary metal bridges to help restore traffic access across the country.—AFP