Bridges to Prosperity has built more than 250 footbridges, serving nearly 1 million community members throughout the world.
Roughan & O’Donovan’s (ROD) Andrew O’Connell will next month join a team of volunteers from Europengineers companies, including Basler & Hofmann, Buro Happold, Pondio, Salfo and Setec, to build a footbridge for villagers in an isolated, rural community in Rwanda.
The project team will travel to Nyarugenge in the Kigali Province, where they will build a 30-metre suspended bridge over the Yanza River, which floods 90 to 180 days of the year, cutting off local access to critical resources.
The new Gatare Suspended Bridge will serve the Gasiza and Rubonobono communities, providing safe passage across the river and year-round access to the local market, health clinic and primary school.
As Team Construction Lead, Andrew will develop the daily works plan and oversee the activities of both volunteers and local community staff on the construction site. He will lead the completion of the as-built drawings and work closely with the project manager to oversee construction on the job site.
Andrew is a member of the executive committee of Engineers Without Borders and has a keen interest in international development work.
I am delighted to have ROD’s support in working with the charity, Bridges to Prosperity, on this challenging project. The Gatare Bridge will make a huge difference to the local population, helping to empower men, women and children out of poverty.
To keep up-to-date with the progress of the project team, check out the Gatare Bridge website.
