TEHRAN -- A team of Iranian experts has recently started renovation of an ancient bridge in Dezful in the southern Iranian province of Khuzestan.

The team will also remove all structures that have been added to the monument over the years, Dezful Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Office (DCHTHO) Director Mehdi Mohammadzadeh told the Persian service of CHN on Saturday.
The bridge over the Dez River was originally constructed during the reign of the 10th king of the Sassanid Empire, Shapur II, with the help of the Romans captured in wars between Persia and Rome.
The bridge, which had become dilapidated over the years, was reconstructed with an Islamic architecture during the Safavid dynasty.
It has 14 large spans with a small span between each two large ones.
The bridge, which is still in use, has been restored several times in various periods. The last was in 1990.
According to Mohammadzadeh, cars and trucks will be prohibited from the bridge after the completion of the restoration project.
In June 2005, Mohammadzadeh warned cultural heritage officials about damages caused by vehicular traffic on the bridge.