Río Taquiña Project

Spanning a busy area in Tiquipaya, a major suburb of Cochabamba, this bridge sits directly next to a large school in a densely populated residential neighborhood. Amenities like a health center, government office, and public transit are all within easy walking distance.

In 2018, a landslide filled the river to its banks with fast-moving mud and boulders from its source in the nearby mountains. The locally-constructed pedestrian bridge across the river was destroyed, leaving the neighborhood divided and hundreds of students unable to walk to class safely during the wet season. Since then, local government has invested heavily in deepening the river channel and constructing preventative measures against future landslides. As of 2023, EIA assessed that these interventions, in combination with the quality of our design and the magnitude of the need, were sufficient to justify the construction of a new bridge.

SPAN

68 meters

country

Bolivia

PROJECT

Connecting a bustling area in Tiquipaya, a major suburb of Cochabamba, a sturdy pedestrian footbridge now stretches across the Río Taquiña. Built in collaboration with municipal engineers, Structural Group, and neighborhood organizations, this 68-meter span ensures safe passage for pedestrians, motorcycles, wheelbarrows, and even livestock. To safeguard against landslides, the bridge design cleverly suspends the deck entirely above the riverbed. Local authorities have taken over maintenance responsibilities, ensuring the bridge serves the community for years to come.

IMPACT

This project is now improving access to education, health care, jobs, and government representation for the neighborhoods of Villa Porvenir, Villa Belen, A.I.G., Villa Satélita, and 6 de Junio. Those who benefit most are the 300 children who will be able to walk to school safely year-round.

THE BRIDGE

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