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Gavilan - Patastule Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge
Project # 073
Project Slide Show
Bridge Sponsor: Sweetgrass Foundation
Partners: The Nicaraguan Mission Team of Sandy Level Baptist Church
Volunteers: Thomas Black, Mike McCormick, Bill Farrow, Junior Weed-Ziegler, Rainer Hantschel, Cammie & Mike Cloman, Carol Davanay, Priscella Bele, Bruce Litchfield, Mark Litchfield, Robyn Long, Allyson Long
Dedication:
Memorial:
River Name: Bul Bul
Bridge Name: Gavilan - Patastule Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge
Bridge Span: 60 meters / 197 feet
Pedestrian Footbridge Type: Suspended
Population Served by Bridge: Approximately 220 people
Expected Traffic: Approximately 175 per day
Bridge Story: Gavilan is a small, rural community just outside the town of Matiguas. Though small, it is a bustling community with a market store and an elementary school. The majority of the villagers cross the river each day to find work, run errands in town, carry and sell their products and fresh milk, reach their fields, or take a sick relative to the hospital. The trip is always risky but, when the waters are high, it can be dangerous.
Several years ago this crossing was the tragic scene where an entire family drowned trying to cross the swollen river in a truck. Every year villagers drown trying to cross. Right now, the community has no direct access to a river crossing, and can only cross safely when the river is low enough. Often young and old have to ford the river during the rainy season carrying their goods on their heads. The elementary school, with an enrollment of fifty children, requires the teacher to cross back and forth each week. Students also travel from the community to the town of Matiguas on Saturday and Sunday to attend high school. This is a very high traffic crossing where a bridge will make a huge impact on the community.
The people are desperate. The community will cut and saw all the lumber for the construction of the bridge’s walking platform, and they will donate all the labor needed. “This bridge is the dream of the people”, stated a member of the Matiguas town government during the initial site survey taken on April 24, 2010.
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Project # 073 - Gavilan Suspended Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge
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