The Traylor Construction Group (TCG) team kicked off the day bright and early with a hearty breakfast of savory pancakes and omelets—fuel for what would be a full and productive day on site.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed once again with the sound of local music. We danced, shared smiles, and then shifted into work mode with a safety talk, our daily stretch-and-flex routine, and task assignments. The two major goals for the day were clear: continue installing decking across the suspension span and complete the concrete pour for the lower abutment.
The local masons, led by the B2P foreman, began by filling in the spaces between large backfill rocks with smaller stone shards. Once the gaps were packed, they set formwork in place and began preparing for the concrete pour. Throughout the day, the local team transported concrete mix bags up the steep path to the lower abutment—Rick even joined in during the afternoon to lend a hand.
Decking installation remained the primary focus for the suspension teams. On the lower abutment, Abby and Justin worked in tandem on deck, supported from the ground by Crispin, Patrick, and Rick. Meanwhile, Ashley, Caleb, and Eddie tackled the higher abutment with assistance from the B2P Corporate Bridge Manager. Ground crews played a key role—pre-loading bolts with washers and passing up tools, panels, bolts, and even water. Justin, Ashley, and Eddie led installation efforts at the front of each deck team, working alongside local crew members. We made sure to rotate the local team members after tea break so that everyone who wanted a chance to harness up and get on deck had the opportunity.
Tea time brought a well-earned pause with guacamole sandwiches and cookies for the crew. After the break, Patrick and a group of local team members worked on wrapping the suspenders—twisting the rebar tails from the swings around the main support cables. The B2P foreman and his team also returned to finish pouring the concrete into the lower abutment, successfully completing it by day’s end.
In parallel, Abby and Caleb trained the local team on how to properly tighten the double nuts on the U-bolts that hold the decking in place. After lunch—which featured chicken rice, fries, spinach, chili sauce (sans beans), pineapple, and mango—we rotated deck crews once more. Eddie took the lead on panel placement while Ashley followed closely behind, tightening bolts.
Throughout the afternoon, Caleb was a great resource on the ground—grabbing tools, bringing water, and even snapping pictures when teammates called out for a helping hand. His flexibility and support helped keep the day moving efficiently and smoothly.
Patrick and Rick used a steel rod to help twist rebar ends around the handrail cables, while up on deck, the teams reached within just a couple of planks of connecting in the middle of the bridge span—a major milestone.
Since not all panels fit perfectly, Abby and Ashley took measurements of any gaps and relayed them down to Eddie, who cut custom panels on the ground to fit. Meanwhile, Patrick and the B2P Corporate Construction Manager began installing fencing along the rebar suspenders. Patrick, Eddie, and Rick, along with several locals, twisted wire to secure the fencing, completing about half of the run.
To wrap up the day, Justin conducted a quality control inspection across the bridge, noting where additional nuts were needed and directing Rick and Eddie to straighten a few misaligned rebar pieces. Crispin followed up with bolt quality control, using a torque wrench to double-check the tightness of the planks.
Dinner that evening was warm and filling—rice, mushroom sauce, potatoes, vegetables, and fresh mango to finish. We also took time to celebrate a special occasion: the birthday of the B2P cook. The whole team gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” in both English and Kinyarwanda, adding a joyful and heartfelt moment to end the day. During dinner, a few team members gathered around for a game of Hearts, while after dinner, others broke out a set of Rummikub for some relaxed fun to close out the evening.
Today marked our final workday before Easter Weekend. We’ll be back early Tuesday morning, and despite losing a couple of workdays, we’re proud to be right on schedule for the progress we had planned to achieve by then. The teamwork, skill-sharing, and collaboration between the TCG team and the local crew continue to drive this project forward—one panel, one pour, one connection at a time.
