Bridge building in Rwanda with Bridges to Prosperity

110-meter suspension bridge built without use of machinery

When the team arrived at the construction site, only the preparatory groundwork (the foundations for the bridge’s land abutments) had been completed. As a result, the construction site was fully operational from day one, with the team working on pulling the supporting cables, laying the bridge deck, and inaugurating the structure.

Representing SYSTRA Denmark was Rune Mikkelsen, Department and Project Manager in the Systems division.

I knew it would be an exciting experience with plenty of challenges. It was tough, but also fascinating to work completely manually and see how much we could achieve in just two weeks – building a bridge without the use of machinery! One of SYSTRA’s core values is connected teams, and this trip really showed what that means in practice.

Rune Mikkelsen

The tasks on the construction site were diverse and ranged from cutting and bending rebar for the hangers that support the bridge deck, to pulling, dragging, and tensioning hundreds of meters of thick wires, painting the bridge’s metal components, performing settlement calculations for the towers, leveling and height setting, and, as mentioned, all without the use of machinery.

The completed bridge has a span of 68 meters and a total length of 110 meters. It is constructed with steel and concrete, with a clearance of 8 meters from the bridge deck to the river. The towers stand at a height of just under 10 meters.

A life-changing experience

In addition to building the bridge, the SYSTRA team also made it a priority to visit the local school, much to the delight of the students, who welcomed them with traditional songs, dances, and drawings. Prior to the visit, colleagues had collected donations for essentials such as rice, school supplies, hygiene products, and more, which were met with great enthusiasm by the students.

Before the team returned home, an official inauguration was held, where the local community and authorities, together with the team, celebrated the fact that the residents of the Rusizi region can now easily and safely access the market, school, and work.

A colleague from a previous expedition told me during our preparations for the trip that it would be a life-changing experience — and he was right!

Rune Mikkelsen

Fakta om Bridges to Prosperity

Bridges to Prosperity is an NGO, founded in 2001, with the goal of connecting isolated communities to vital resources through safe and reliable footbridges. The organization has built hundreds of bridges globally, improving the quality of life for thousands of people by reducing travel time and increasing access to essential facilities.

Since 2017, SYSTRA has been collaborating with Bridges to Prosperity to support the projects through our expertise in engineering and infrastructure. Together, we work with local authorities, businesses, and volunteers to ensure the success and sustainability of the projects.