Work on the bridge continues!

This week brought more progress on construction of the bridge over the creek running through our clinic site.  The floor of the bridge was poured last weekend and this week the workmen placed the iron bars that will be used to support the walls of the bridge:

Poured base of bridge, 5/17/11

Iron work in bridge support walls 5/17/11

Here is a view of the bridge and creek:

Looking across the creek 5/17/11

And this is looking downstream from the bridge:

Looking downstream from the bridge 5/17/11

The walls were framed with plywood over the iron bars on Thursday, May 19^th, and concrete will be poured in the frames on Friday, producing a solid, sturdy bridge wall:

Framing the walls of the bridge 5/19/11

Framed walls in which cement will be poured 5/19/11

We are excited about the progress that has been made thus far, and we’re especially grateful for the road and bridge-building expertise of Engineer Paul Chery.

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Construction Update

Progress continues on the road and bridge construction.  Materials including cement and iron rebar have been transported to the site (our patients are now sharing their waiting room with piles of cement bags) and the creek area is being prepared for placement of the foundation of the bridge.  Here are some photos from last week’s progress:

Entry road looking from main road 5/10/11

Entry road looking towards the creek bed 5/10/11

Interested onlookers 5/10/11

Working on creek bed 5/10/11

Creek bed 5/12/11

Creek bed being filled 5/12/11

Creek bed looking downstream 5/12/11

Creek diverted to small trickle 5/12/11

Entry road looking toward main road 5/12/11

Path of road over creek bed 5/12/11

Hope for Haiti Banquet

The third annual Hope for Haiti banquet was held at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee on April 16, 2011.  Over 200 people were in attendance and it was an enjoyable time for all.  There was an extensive silent auction, an exciting live auction, unique Haitian crafts, delicious dinner and wonderful company.  Much thanks to all who helped with the planning and implementation of the banquet and to those who participated, both by their presence and with their contributions.  One hundred percent of the funds raised at the banquet, as with previous banquets, will be used for our clinic construction.

Live Auction Excitement (Photo by paparazzibyappointment.com)

Speaking of construction, work is presently underway on an entry road onto the clinic site and a bridge over a creek running through the site.  This work is being done by Engineer Paul Chery, the Regional Director of the Haitian Department of Transportation.  We had asked him for advice in construction of the road and bridge, to be sure they would be built in accordance with Haitian road standards, and he offered to supervise the work for us and use his equipment and workmen to do it.  So, on April 2^nd, the work was started, using a brand new back hoe/front loader that had just been sent out from Port-au-Prince.  Here are some photos from that day:

Area to be worked on

First Pass

Work in progress

Constructing the Road

Lots of spectators

Progress on the road