Acrow Bridge supplies structures and training for UN peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic

Parsippany, N.J. — Acrow Bridge recently furnished 10 modular steel bridges to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in support of the agency’s peacekeeping work throughout the country. Acrow also provided in-country training to MINUSCA personnel on the assembly, installation and maintenance of the critical infrastructure assets.

Acrow’s bridges were sold to MINUSCA and will be used in various locations throughout the country where quality bridge infrastructure solutions are particularly critical. Upon receipt of the purchase order, it was required that Acrow have the bridges onsite within 90 days. Owing to the modular nature of Acrow’s bridges, the components of the structure were able to be shipped in standard 20-foot (6.1 meters) containers and transferred to trucks for the final shipping destination, the capital city of Bangui.

The Acrow bridges supplied were single-lane structures 4.2 meters wide curb-to-curb, with varying lengths from 9m to 30m. Each meets the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges and has a live load of AASHTO HS25.

The bridges were delivered in August 2017 and training for 40 MINUSCA military personnel was provided by Acrow Bridge over a five-day period in February 2018 on the full assembly, installation and maintenance of the structures. Specific topics covered during the program included parts identification, assembly techniques, positioning and placement of the launching rollers, center-of-gravity calculations and abutment positioning.

The training program consisted of both classroom hours and field training. The MINUSCA personnel involved came from various countries, including Cambodia, Chile, Indonesia, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda and Tanzania.

“It is gratifying to know Acrow bridging is helping to support efforts to alleviate suffering and promote stability in a very challenging region,” said Bill Killeen, CEO of Acrow Bridge. “While Acrow bridges are designed and manufactured with high strength galvanized steel for a service life of 75-100 years, they also provide a solution for emergency applications as they can be quickly assembled within days with no heavy construction equipment, and reused wherever they are needed. Acrow has a long and successful history in Africa, and we remain grateful to be of service to customers, supporting sustainable development through high quality, durable infrastructure.”