This manual was developed based on the experience of the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) supported Kasese District Poverty Reduction Programme (KDPRP) in Western Uganda, during the period 2009-2013. The programme piloted stone arch culverts and bridges in rural areas, where low labour costs and high cost of industrial building materials favour this technology. The construction of stone arch bridges in Uganda, Tanzania & Rwanda has demonstrated its overall feasibility in East Africa.
The purpose of this manual is to provide supervisors of stone arch bridge works with an easy step-by-step guide. The stepwise approach ensures adherence to quality requirements and construction methodology. The main target audience of this manual is the road works supervisors and engineers employed by District Local Governments in East Africa. However, the manual remains relevant in the context of many other developing countries.
Please access the manual in English through this link.
An updated version of the manual was developed in 2021 after testing and implementing stone bridges in Tanzania at scale in collaboration with Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA). More information about the stone bridge implementation in Tanzania can be found here. Please access the updated manual in Swahili through this link.
Last modified: October 12, 2022