Sustainable Measures to Achieve Better River-Crossing Access in the Rural Areas of Developing Countries

Abstract

Due to financial and technical constraints of the governments of developing countries, rural road networks generally offer poor access. At stream-crossing sections on rural roads, in particular, access may be cut off during the rainy season because of high water flooding the bridge. Considering the socio-economic situation and limited resources in rural areas, the authors proposed to build road-stream crossings through community initiatives by mobilizing local resources. Since then, several projects have been conducted. In order to assess the practicability of improving access at road-stream crossings and the performance of constructed structures, this paper presents case studies on projects in which low-water bridges and vented fords were constructed. Then, we discuss the performance of the structure and application criteria for construction, either by the community themselves or in collaboration with local government and community. It is demonstrated that road-stream crossing construction through community initiatives provides better access to roadside communities and enhances feelings of ownership, such that locals feel responsible for performing continuous maintenance and bridge safety.