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Sebara Dildi - 2nd Portuguese Steel Truss
Pedestrian Footbridge
Project # 001
Project Slide Show
Bridge Name: 2nd Portuguese Bridge/Sebara Dildi
River Name: Blue Nile
Pedestrian Footbridge Type: Steel Truss
Expected Traffic: Moderate-Heavy: 50-100 crossings per hour
Bridge Story: The 2nd Portuguese Bridge is located in Ethiopia on the Blue Nile River gorge approximately 50 kilometers below the rivers headwaters, Lake Tana. The 2nd Portuguese Bridge (called "Sebara Dildi" by the Amahara Highlanders, which means "broken bridge") is approximately 360 years old (built during the reign of Ethiopian Emperor Fasilides 1632-67) and is built of stone, sand, lime, and eggs!! The eggs acted as an early elastomeric adhesive.
It was thought to be designed and constructed by the descendants of Portuguese soldiers that were invited to the country by Regent Mother Eleni in 1508 to fend off the advance of the Muslim Grangn (see Layers of Time by Paul B. Henze). It was built solely as a pedestrian/donkey crossing, for each of its approaches end up against a cliff. This bridge acted as the connection point for a major caravan route between two trading regions: the Gonder region and the city of Debra Tabor to the north, and the Gojjam region and the city of Debre Markos to the south.
Throughout its 360 year history, it has often been broken, hence the reason for the broken bridge name. It was repaired once in 1908 by Emperor Menelik II. In 1936, during World War II, the middle arch of the bridge was destroyed by Ethiopian Patriots to hinder Mussolini's Italian invasion force. During the effort to cut away the arch by using farming plow points, it collapsed and killed 40 men and the Ethiopian resistance leader, Fitaurari Tamrit (see The Blue Nile Revealed by Richard Snailham). After the Italian defeat, it was never repaired, except for temporary rickety structures of logs/sticks/mud. The Amhara people still use it as a crossing to avoid the 150 kilometer round trip needed to use the next closest bridge to the north. They cross the broken span with the use of ropes bound together in knots and 6 men on each side to pull people across one at a time.
Those who operate the rope on a rotating basis charge 38 cents (3 Ethiopian Birr) per man to cross, a huge toll for Ethiopian peasants (the typical wage is 15 Birr or $1.75 per day). Goats and donkeys are taken across upside down, with rope tied to tShumat, Maksen, and Arota. The entire bridge measures about 210 feet, with the severed portion equaling about 40 feet. The open span will be repaired with a light weight fixed truss steel design. To prevent the remaining structure from failing, the other 170 feet of stone bridge will be historically restored as closely approximate the stone and lime methods used by Emperor Menelik. The badly eroded center pier will be shored as well with the same basaltic rock and lime to prevent collapse. The schedule for completion of this project is early 2002 (assuming final approvals are granted).
Update: March 5, 2002: The new bridge replacement took 6 months to fabricate in the capital city, Addis Ababa, and then another 2 months to purchase, organize, and move all 25,000 lbs of construction materials, gear, and supplies to the river on donkeys. After full blown construction commenced, the bridge was repaired and restored in 10 days, with the help of 4 Bridges volunteers, and over 300 Ethiopian workers and volunteers. The Inauguration was held on Saturday, February 23, 2002 with over 1000 people in attendance. The entire day was consumed with speeches, celebration, blessings by priests, slaughtering of cows, feasting, dancing, and pure joy!
Copies of the speeches made in Ethiopia's official language, Amharic, are available on request. Copies of the Ken Frantz journal will be available in the future by request as well. This journal includes many stories at the river including: GI Jill and the Kalashnikovs, Banchamlak, a 12 year old girl badly burned, a man drowns and another is saved, the ill fated raft trip, the dove miracle, the descent and ascent of the American flag, the inauguration, spiritual awakenings, tragedy and hope at the free medical clinic, the lifeguard, the Kebele leaders, the reunion with the elders, the forgotten people and villages of east Gonder, Patriot Fitaurari Tamrit's grandson life long wait for forgiveness, the payroll battle at the OK corral, the federal water battles, the Zoe fan club, volunteer trials and tribulations, and much more.
Update: March 19, 2002: During the 10 days of construction at the river, Bridges operated a free medical clinic. The clinic was operated by Dr. Mengistu, a doctor from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, and Nurse Hussein from Addis Ababa. The clinic treated 1000 patients in the 10 days of operation, and consumed over 12 huge cases of medical supplies. The waiting line for the clinic at times exceeded 500 people, many of whom arrived by animal skin stretchers. In most cases, the patients, had never previously been under the care of a physician. The clinic idea came from the need to treat construction related injuries (the closest clinic is one days travel from the construction site), but was quickly transformed in the months prior to something more, due to the generosity of one of our donors, Klaus Viegener of Germany. An extensive report of injuries and illnesses treated can be ordered from Bridges To Prosperity by special request.
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Project
# 001 - Sebara Dildi - 2nd Portuguese Steel Truss
Pedestrian Footbridge
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