Los Gomez Bridge Complete

We complete the bridge near the community of Los Gomez, providing year around access to health care, education, and shopping to residence of 4 small communities. The design and financing were provided through engineering students from Colorado School of Mines. Bridges to Prosperity provided technical support and the support cables for the bridge along with basic design and implementation support. Nica Impact (we) provided logistical support and correspondence between all the players. Everybody worked on the construction, from excavation to mixing concrete, to collecting rock. It was a team effort and very rewarding. 

This stuff is fun, folks. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

42 Meters across and 5 meters above the river floor.

High water will come to about 6 feet from the bridge 

Engineer Todd Wang and wanna-be engineer Doug Effinger (me) listening to the mayor inaugurate the bridge. 

Mayor of the Municipality of Santa Teresa Ivan Dinarte walks across .

Students from Colorado School of Mines share their appreciation.

Seven year old Noalisa. So many cute kids.

Another little munchkin. Julie takes great photos.

Todd Wang looking on. We wouldnt be involved with bridges were it not for Todd taking an interest and leading the projects. He is a retired Colonel with the Army Corp of Engineers and has many years of experience doing these types of projects. 

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Osmany Jose Ramos

Osmany is finishing up his third year of nursing school in the town of Masaya, about an hours ride by bus. He is 23 years old. He has two more years of school before graduation. (The school year in Nicaragua ends in December)

Osmany is a very responsile young man. In addition to his studies, he volunteers at the old folks home in town. And he is a leader in the local church, serving as an usher in the youth services (under 30 age range). He is a model student, very creative, and has a heart to serve others.

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Manuel Pavon

Manuel is 20 years old and is studying Electro-mechanical Engineering. His courses are on the weekends in Managua, an hour away, so he spends his weekday mornings volunteering at a local mechanics shop, then in the afternoon he has study time, and in the evening he is learning English at a local school. He will complete the English course at the end of the year. He still has over three years left with his university degree.

Manuel is very motivated to learn anything he can. He is a hard worker and has a plan for his future.

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Ivan Bismarck Gutierrez

Ivan has been with us for a year now and is finishing up his first year at the same agricultural school and Franklin attends. He is from San Gregorio where Milton is from. Ivan is another one of those students that constantly shows his gratitude for the opportunity to study. He and Franklin travel to Rivas every day, Leaving on the bus before  6 am and returning from class after 6 pm. Ivan is 18 years old.

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