This is how people crossed Second Portuguese Bridge before it was repaired.
The bridge was manufactured in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, by a locally owned metal fabrication firm. It was the first time this firm had ever built a bridge. Here the bridge is pre-assembled before being broken down for transport.
All the steel for the bridge was carried down a steep, 25-kilometer trail on the backs of men from local villages.
The 25,000 lbs. of gear for the bridge repair was carried in mostly by donkeys and mules.
Project leader Ken Frantz and volunteer Gary Bunch take measurements on the new bridge support to insure proper alignment and level.
Weldi and volunteer Randy Stacey assemble the bridge tinker-toy style.
Randy Stacey rappels down the side of the center pier to determine how much farther the river level must fall before exposing the foundations, which needed repair.
Men struggle to pull up passengers on the gondola used as temporary transport while the bridge is being repaired.
The new span is pushed over a series of logs onto the bridge.
To make sure the bridge will support a full load, 126 men crowd onto the bridge for a load test at the river before the span is pulled across and put in place.
Zoe Keone captured this image during the load test.
Gary Bunch prepares the bridge for its pull across the span.
The span hangs precariously above the river as it’s guided into place.
Gary readies the brass bridge plaque for placement. The plaque is engraved in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia.
The finished bridge
Because his foot was severely injured the day before, Ken Frantz is forced to sit when receiving village elders from Gonder.
Gary Bunch is elated when presented with both American and Ethiopian flags by village leaders.
As Ken Frantz looks on, Nakachu Wodenha, mayor of the city of Motta (pop. 125,000) gives a heartfelt speech to the 1,000 people assembled for the inauguration.
Village leaders blow trumpets in celebration as they cross the bridge for the first time on inauguration day.
Melaku, an elder from Agam Woha, in his finest dress for Inauguration day. He holds a fly swatter made of goat hair, a luxury reserved only for elders.
The elders of Agam Woha, a village of 10,000 that lies closest to the bridge on the Gojjam side.
A priest holds one of the 40 Ethiopian Orthodox Bibles Randy Stacey took to distribute to the clergy. Since Bibles are very expensive in Ethiopia, very few priests have copies of their own.
An Ethiopian Orthodox priest holds a staff surmounted by this elaborate cross. During the opening ceremony for the repaired bridge, priests used staffs like this one to bless the Bridges to Prosperity team and the bridge itself.
Ethiopian Orthodox cross
Priests from the local Ethiopian churches celebrate on inauguration day with ancient songs of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
A village leader. The staff is partially covered in goat hide.
A young woman, probably 21 years old, and her child
An Ethiopian Orthodox woman displays tattoos in the sign of a cross to demonstrate her devotion to God.
A young woman about 15 years old
Ken Frantz carries a bag of gravel for the concrete bridge footings. The gravel was crushed by villagers swinging hammers. It took a man one hour to make enough for a single bag. Frantz writes, ‘We used hundreds and hundreds of bags.
Zoe Keone, logistics manager and photographer for the Second Portuguese Bridge project, takes a well-deserved break on the finished bridge.
An elder from the village of Agam Woha
One of the oldest and most respected elders is chosen to speak for the province of Gojjam during the inauguration.
