WSP to Send Two Teams to Rwanda Under Bridges to Prosperity Program

Almost a quarter of a billion people around the world do not have safe access to critical resources like health care, education, or employment due to rural isolation, often as a result of an impassable river. Trail bridges create a safe connection, transforming the way people plan for, and invest in, their future. 

Founded in 2001, Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) has built more than 430 trail bridges, serving over 1.5 million community members throughout the world. Trail bridges return at least 6x+ their cost in increased economic activity. Here are some of the compelling facts that clearly demonstrate the impact B2P is having: 

+36% increase in wages 

+75% farmer profitability 

+60% women entering the labor market 

+22% student attendance in schools 

+32% health facility visits 

Since 2010, WSP has been collaborating with B2P on bridge design and the construction of projects, with WSP Global completing a first bridge in 2019 and WSP USA participating in the completion of eleven bridges builds to date, worldwide.  

WSP’s 2023 Mandate 

While B2P has been working in many isolated communities around the world, with the support of the Rwandan National Government for a major grant and broad political support, B2P is embarking on a five-year program to complete 321 trail bridges, essentially eliminating rural isolation in that small country.   

As a B2P industry partner, WSP is supporting B2P in this monumental effort by sending two teams to Rwanda in August and October 2023. With B2P leadership and local community teams working on construction starting months ahead of our arrival, each WSP team of 10 volunteers will arrive at their designated project site for the last two weeks of construction and the opening of the bridge. Each team includes a project manager, construction manager, safety manager, logistics coordinator and a communications manager with video and photography experience. 

Kanyiramana 2 Trail Bridge— August 6-20 

WSP USA is sponsoring and organizing a team to build a suspension bridge in the Huye municipality. Through participation in this bridge project, our team will work alongside residents to construct the footbridge. During the rainy season, flooding is prevalent and the Mwogo River is simply impassable. A safe, reliable connection across the river means year-round access to education, markets and healthcare that will improve the quality of life for the nearly 4,000 residents of the Gishihe, Kababaji, Kanyiramana, Ngororero and Karamabi communities. At a main span length of nearly 156 meters, the Kanyiramana 2 Trailbridge across the Mwogo River will be B2P’s LONGEST suspension bridge ever constructed. 

Given the magnitude of this project, WSP USA is sending eleven volunteers to help construct the bridge, with two construction managers that will lead concurrent construction activities on both sides of the river.  

Juan Diego Montenegro (Long Beach, CA): Project Manager
Carlos Ramirez (Sacramento, CA): Construction Manager
Sentel Rodgers (Nashville, TN): Construction Manager
Alex Francis (Federal Way, WA): Safety Manager
Chris Khoury (San Diego, CA): Logistics Manager
Elizabeth Tujak-Weiss (Valhalla, NY): Communications Manager
Robert Nardi (Lawrenceville, NJ): Volunteer
Autumn Pearson (Redmond WA): Volunteer
Trang Mai (Atlanta, GA): Volunteer
Jessica Feenstra (Anchorage, AK): Volunteer
Brandon Yeh (Portland, OR): Volunteer

Click here to support the WSP USA Team. 

Ruhondo Trail Bridge — October 1-13 

Currently, the Rugabano River is synonymous with missed opportunity. During the rainy season, life can be cruel to the local communities who rely on crossing the river to reach an array of critical resources such as healthcare and markets. The river will stay flooded and pose great danger to anyone who may attempt crossing it. The people in the communities have some of their businesses and work disrupted as they wait for the water levels to recede so that they can cross. In addition, children can't attend school, located on the other side of the river. 

The Ruhondo trail bridge will provide safe, year-round access for the Karambi and Gahororo/Gitabura communities, providing access to opportunity to empower the communities out of poverty. 

A 10-member global project team will complete the project in Gicumbi, with WSP representatives from seven countries:

WSP and B2P have generously donated a significant amount of resources to make this project possible. To complement the funding of some basic materials and resources for the build, a dedicated fundraising page is now available. Click here to help the team make a difference. 

About WSP

As one of the largest professional services firms in the world, WSP exists to future-proof our cities and our environment. It provides strategic advisory, engineering and design services to clients seeking sustainable solutions in the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, and mining sectors. Its 67,000 trusted professionals are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities it serves through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. In 2022, WSP reported $11.9 B (CAD) in revenue. The Corporation’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: WSP).  

Bridges to Prosperity 

Bridges to Prosperity envisions a world where poverty caused by rural isolation no longer exists. Rural isolation is a root cause of poverty, and we believe that connection is the foundation to opportunity. We build bridges to better lives in rural communities. With a sophisticated data collection and evaluation program, we’re able to prove that the value and impact of our work is sustained long after the opening celebration.