Nonprofit Group Builds Footbridge in Rural Nicaragua
Volunteers built a 164-ft suspension footbridge that allows people from several Nicaraguan villages to cross the Rio Jucuapa River safely near Jucuapa Abajo. Work ended on on Oct. 9. Turner Construction, New York City, and Flatiron Construction, Firestone, Colo., donated materials, expertise and personnel. The nonprofit group Bridges to Prosperity, Denver, supervised. The organization pinpoints key river crossing points for rural communities in need of health care, education and economic opportunities. It then recruits workers and collects materials. The organization also teaches footbridge design and engineering techniques to benefit the greatest number of people in local communities. With corporate support from construction companies in developed nations, the nonprofit has built more than 100 bridges since 2001.