Project # 008 - Kerranio Bridge

Location: Ethiopia; Addis Ababa Region; Kolfe Kerranio Sub-City
Bridge Sponsor: The Gloucester Point Rotary Club, Virginia
Other Donors: 22 Rotary clubs from Virginia and Washington State; Rotary International; District 7610; Bridges to Prosperity Members.
Local Collaboration partners: Kolfe Kerranio Kebele #07

Bridge name: Kerranio Church - Betal Hospital
Bridge span: 50 meters (164 feet)
Population served by bridge: 14,000
Expected traffic: Heavy, 100 crossings per hour

Bridge Story: A mere 15 minutes from Addis Ababa city, Kolfe Kerranio lies separated by the vast modern ring road the Chinese helped constructed. A river meanders through the hills, dissecting this suburban population, separating children from school, farmers from the main market, and the sick from the hospital.

The site of bridge #1 is ominously marked by a small sign staked into the ground asking those passing by for funds, nails, and wood, anything that could be used in the construction of a new bridge. During the rainy season the river flows swiftly into small falls and curves away out of view. During these 3 months or more, the people of Kolfe Kerranio, have no access to the Betal hospital lying just across the river. Their only alternative when the river is impassable is a long walk to the other side. Yet with a bridge, the walk to the other side would only take 20 minutes.

A Kindergarten sits perched on the short hill on the Kerranio Church side of the river. Dozens of children from the Betal Hospital side of the river are hence denied an education during the rainy season. Equally tragic are those that cannot reach the hospital during the wet season.

At Kerranio Square lies the main market plying such items as vegetables, meat, and grains. Yet, this market is in-accessible for the farmers on the Betal Church side for 3 months of the year. The Betal farmers during high water are forced to make the long walk to Addis Ababa, and thereby receive less for their goods due to the extra cost for transport, and the added competition that exists in the capital city.

It is here that Bridges to Prosperity decided to help place the first bridge of the new Ethiopia Footbridge Program. It is here that the people of Kolfe Kerranio, within one week, gathered together the funds to pay for sand, gravel and rock for the bridge foundations. It is here that the community will break ground soon, eager to begin the construction of their new bridge and thereby change their lives forever. And finally, it is here, where a small plaque will thank the Rotary Club of Gloucester Point along with a matching grant from Rotary International, for its generosity for donating the steel and cable.