Building bridges to prosperity: a case study of the Paso Real, Nicaragua, 100m suspension bridge

Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) is a non-profit organization that focuses on being the primary depository and training center for low cost, robust, long-span bridge structures for rural applications. By building cable-supported bridges over impassable rivers, B2P and industry partners act as a catalyst in rural communities, providing access to health care, education and market opportunities.

B2P has partnered with industry professionals around the world in order to develop and standardize a cable-supported pedestrian bridge designs, ranging in span from 30 to 165 meters. This paper will address the design limitations of lost-cost and low-tech projects for rural applications, and will discuss a few of the innovative design and construction techniques developed through these partnerships through a case study of the organization’s longest suspension bridge to date.

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