Bridging the Unsurmountable – The Design Journey for a Long Span Hybrid Suspension-Suspended Bridge in Uganda

<p>Nestled in a picturesque and remote valley carved by the shifting and powerful Mukubu River, the communities of Bikone and Nyakabuha in Western Uganda are now reconnected by the longest footbridge in Uganda, providing both renewed hope and connectivity with an ambitious physical connection. A team spearheaded by Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and partnering with HDR volunteers answered the community’s call for help. </p><p> Support to EWB for the project was backed by various local agencies, groups, and community stakeholders and financial support for bridge construction was secured from a private donor. The technical support of a team of volunteers across numerous USA-based HDR offices infused passion and determination into the project so it could be realized. The application of transformative geospatial data with innovative form-finding tools optimized technical output and enabled the design delivery for construction of a groundbreaking, bespoke hybrid suspension bridge in Uganda in less than two years. </p>