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Our Program
2025
2024
2023
2022
2020/21
2019
2018
2017
2016
Busabira
Rwanda
Bridge Span (feet)
Team Members
Working Days
Lives Improved

The Region

Rwanda, officially known as the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country situated in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. Often referred to as the "land of a thousand hills" due to its mountainous terrain, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda is known for its stunning landscapes, including numerous lakes and a subtropical climate. The country has made significant strides in economic development and social reconciliation and is notable for its high population density and efforts toward environmental sustainability.

For those living in the isolated, mountainous regions of Rwanda, rivers often represent missed opportunities. During the rainy seasons each year, they become impassable and disrupt the lives of those who must cross rivers to access essential resources, including health care, markets and schools.

Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) is a nonprofit organization focused on eliminating rural isolation and creating economic opportunities by building trail bridges over impassable rivers. B2P identified a site in the Gicumbi District, located in the north-central region of Rwanda, to build a suspension bridge over the Rugabano River.

The Project

In late February and early March 2025, 10 Michael Baker International colleagues – representing offices from Virginia Beach to San Diego – traveled to Rwanda to partner with B2P and community members on the construction of the Busabira trail bridge. The site of the new bridge was surrounded by rolling hills and farmland, where residents grow pumpkins, bananas, coffee, plantains, peppers, mangos and more.

The two-week build began with painting and erecting the towers at both ends of the bridge, then pulling and setting the four main suspension cables. Each workday started with stretching, singing and dancing, led by the local community members working on the bridge. Under the hot sun, the team bent rebar and prepped cables for the decking, then lifted the suspenders and floor beams as the bridge began to take shape. With week two of construction came the removal of the scaffolding around the towers. Working side-by-side with the community, the team installed deck panels, floor beams, handrails and fencing along the 311-foot-long bridge. With the pouring of concrete at the approaches and some final touches, the bridge was complete.

Throughout the build, the Michael Baker team took every chance to connect with the local residents who had warmly welcomed them into their community. The team members committed to learning and using Kinyarwanda words and phrases during each workday, such as muraho (hello), hagarara (stop) and nahejo (see you tomorrow). They also hosted two barbeques for their Rwandan teammates, providing extra opportunities for everyone to get to know each other.

Each day, more and more children from the surrounding communities visited the project site to watch the team at work. Their smiles and excitement energized the team, reminding them of the people whose lives would be impacted by the new bridge. A highlight for the whole team was their visit to a nearby school, GS Nyabisiga. They brought donations for the school, including coloring books, soccer balls, jump ropes, yo-yos and more, and received drawings created by students as a “thank you” for their work on the bridge.

Our Impact

At the conclusion of the two-week build, the Michael Baker team members joined B2P staff, local government representatives and community members of all ages for an inauguration celebration. With speeches, a ribbon cutting, and plenty of singing and dancing, the ceremony marked the official opening of the Busabira trail bridge. Following the ceremony, local community members in attendance put the bridge to its first – and most important – test, as hundreds of residents crossed the bridge for the very first time. The team had the opportunity to witness these crossings, getting a glimpse of how the bridge will continue to serve the community for many years to come.

The Busabira trail bridge will provide safe, year-round access for the Busabira, Gatare and Minanira communities, providing access to education and economic opportunities for generations to come. The Busabira bridge marks the ninth bridge Michael Baker has completed in partnership with B2P, Making a Difference in the lives of more than 20,500 people across two continents since the firm first began partnering with B2P in 2016.

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