Planning & Construction of a footbridge in Rwanda

In cooperation with Rwandan students an expert group of bridge building of the aid organisation of the Engineers without Borders Germany is planning a footbridge with a span of 35 m over the river Giciye at Kamajanga in Rwanda. Subsequent to it will be constructed together with the local population.

The river Giciye is crossed by up to 1000 people on a market-day at the intended location. Until now therefore exists a narrow and seriously damaged bridge composed of wood beams which is sometimes totally washed over and unsuitable for use during rain periods. The accident risk at crossing the river led to several cases of death, yet.

Due to the construction of a new bridge the inhabitants of the surrounding area will be provided with the access to hospitals, schools, markets, groceries, employment and a lot more. To procure the residents and the users of the bridge with the motivation and the knowledge to maintain the bridge on their own, they will be actively involved in the construction. Through the joint planning and the following implementation, the students of civil engineering of the Rwandan Institute of Science and Technology are able to achieve experience and technical knowledge. This makes an independent realisation of similar projects possible in the future.

The planning phase begins in September 2012 subsequent to the seminar on bridge building held by the Engineers without Borders Germany at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (also a project on betterplace.org, see link below). The construction of the bridge will be presumably completed in March 2013.

Kamajanga is located near the small town Kabaya, linear distance about 70 km westerly from the capital Kigali. The bigger part of the costs is composed of material costs, expenses for transport and the cost of labour (for domestic workers). In addition to that costs incur for planning (office equipment, software licences, communication etc.), board and lodging on construction site.

Link to the seminar on bridge building on betterplace.org:
http://www.betterplace.org/en/projects/8738-bruckenbau-seminar-in-ruanda

Further information on the project and the Engineers without Borders Germany are found on our website:
http://www.ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org/de/Kompetenzgruppen/Kompetenzgruppe-Bruecken-und-Hochbau/Projekte/Planung-und-Bau-einer-Fussgaengerbruecke-in-Ruanda Read more