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Thursday, 18 October 2007

Footbridge built in Malawi by Imperial students


A new bridge in Malawi is helping local people cross the river to collect firewood and patrol against poachers, thanks to five students from Imperial College London.
The project was organised by Naomi Bessey, physics undergraduate, and Daniel Carrivick, geology postgraduate. Joining them were three civil engineering undergraduates; Harriet Kirk, chief site engineer, Li-Teck Lau and Jumana Al-Zubaidi who were both site engineers.

The 37 metre suspended footbridge was constructed across the North Rukuru River at Uledi on the north western corner of Nyika National Park. Local people were unable to cross the river during the wet season and the river split Uledi in two cutting off half of the village. Daniel heard about the need for a bridge through Biosearch Expeditions, a project which is helping in the conservation of the Nyika National Park.

A preliminary trip took place last summer when Daniel and Naomi took a different group of civil engineering students from Imperial College London to survey the site and make the necessary preparations to lay down the foundations for the bridge.

On their second trip this summer, the first task facing the team, before they could begin building the bridge, was to clear the site. Daniel explains: "We found the site a lot more overgrown than it was last summer. The wet season had brought more rain and there was a lot of clearing to do before we could start building."

Thirty people from the local community also got involved with the building project, helping the team of student engineers collect materials and carry cables across the river.

The entire workforce helped raise the bridge’s cables into place and fasten them. Specialist high rope equipment was used by the students to fasten adjoining cables and lay the decking.

To celebrate the completion of the bridge an opening ceremony was held at the end of the students visit with the chief of Uledi and the National Park manager attending. Officials then crossed the bridge followed by the local workers and the community.

The project provided the Imperial students with hands on experience and an opportunity to help a local community. Daniel concludes, "It was an amazing experience and something I’m really proud to have been involved with." He added: "It was emotional to watch everyone walk over the bridge for the first time, especially when you realised just how much it meant to them."

This expedition was supported by the Imperial College Exploration Committee, which considers proposals for expeditions from students and administers funds to help with the cost.

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