When I lived on Bairiki from 1956 until 1963 there were no bridges and no causeways, no airport, most travel between the islands was by boat/canoe. At low tide some travel was possible between the islands by truck driving on the exposed sand. Travel on and off the atoll was by small ship, and very occasional by New Zealand Forces Sunderland flying boat.
Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures Cool. If I ever get around to uploading some of the videos of when we worked there, I'll be sure to share it with you.
The concrete causeway was built many years ago for heavy trucks to get to Buota as the bridge would never have survived. This construction was not well designed, as it stops some of the water flow through to the lagoon and caused some silting up of the original channel.
I was on the Pacific Partnership 2009 team that demolished the existing failed bridge and replaced with the one that's there now. Extremely corrosive environment.
Lovely video of the new Friendship Bridge connecting the two remote islands in the Tarawa Atoll of the Republic of Kiribati AKA The Gilbert Islands. The Old causeway just for safety reasons alone should be torn down without delay. Despite being broken up, the old causeway in the center of the causeway appears to be covered up by the Pacific Ocean and that was as you mentioned at low tide when you filmed this video. The new bridge is a very narrow one lane bridge. I would assume that very little traffic crosses this bridge ar any time of the day. What is the population of the Republic of Kiribati?
+Michael Friedman Hi Michael, the old causeway is used for fishing and only about 50 cars cross friendship bridge per day. The population of Kiribati is about 100 thousand people and about half of that number live in the Tarawa Atoll (Kiribati owns several other islands as well)...
As @B Mart stated, it was a team effort with US Marines, Aussie Sappers and a pair of Canadian Sappers. Pacific Partnership 09 was a career highlight for me
I did not see the old bridge.. However, before that (new) bridge, they were using a concrete road that was uncovered during low tide, I crossed that road (all broken in pieces) and it was risky, it was so slippery..
The bridge is an old Bailey bridge used up through Vietnam and still in mothballed storage for the army. I used to put those together. The Bailey was a pin bridge able to be erected without equipment placed by hand. Counterbalance on the land side erected and pushed across on heavy rollers bridging the gap. Put one up in Honduras back in the 1980s, a friendship bridge.
Thank you for viewing my videos. This bridge is between the islands of Bonriki and Buota, north of the international airport... you will never forget the views from here..
@VicStefanu...Say, Vic, if you have run a video on Iwo Jima, could you please run it again for those of us who didn't see it? I'd like to revisit the land of Ernie Pyle (?).
Yes..it is very beautiful and the water so clear..yet still a lovely color.. Thanks Vic!👍♥️
Thank you!!
thank you vic
Thank you for watching my videos, I always like to re-watch this video to remember the greats times of crossing the Pacific..
thanks a lot appreciate your videos 。
Hello, thank you for watching my videos!! 👍👍👍
When I lived on Bairiki from 1956 until 1963 there were no bridges and no causeways, no airport, most travel between the islands was by boat/canoe. At low tide some travel was possible between the islands by truck driving on the exposed sand. Travel on and off the atoll was by small ship, and very occasional by New Zealand Forces Sunderland flying boat.
You must have some incredible memories from Kiribati... Thank you for your comments!
Thanks very much for your reply. have virwed your other videos. Kiribati is indeed a beautiful island/nation.
The Aussie Army Engineers also helped us Americans build it. Cool to see it years later. Man, that place was hot. Cheers.
+B Mart. It was a beautiful place (and very hot) when I was there.. I loved Kiribati and hop to go back soon..
Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures How did you get the picture in the thumbnail? The broken bridge is the one we replaced.
+B Mart. I think I found it on the internet, I had to do a lot of research but finally it showed up on a website somewhere..
Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures Cool. If I ever get around to uploading some of the videos of when we worked there, I'll be sure to share it with you.
The concrete causeway was built many years ago for heavy trucks to get to Buota as the bridge would never have survived. This construction was not well designed, as it stops some of the water flow through to the lagoon and caused some silting up of the original channel.
I noticed that (regarding the waterflow) on low tide. Also, the causeway is extremely slippery and it is impossible to walk on..
I was on the Pacific Partnership 2009 team that demolished the existing failed bridge and replaced with the one that's there now. Extremely corrosive environment.
Wow, thank you for your comments.. I was going to go there again this year but covid-19 made me change my plans.. what a place!
Lovely video of the new Friendship Bridge connecting the two remote islands in the Tarawa Atoll of the Republic of Kiribati AKA The Gilbert Islands.
The Old causeway just for safety reasons alone should be torn down without delay.
Despite being broken up, the old causeway in the center of the causeway appears
to be covered up by the Pacific Ocean and that was as you mentioned at low tide when
you filmed this video. The new bridge is a very narrow one lane bridge. I would assume
that very little traffic crosses this bridge ar any time of the day.
What is the population of the Republic of Kiribati?
+Michael Friedman Hi Michael, the old causeway is used for fishing and only about 50 cars cross friendship bridge per day. The population of Kiribati is about 100 thousand people and about half of that number live in the Tarawa Atoll (Kiribati owns several other islands as well)...
+Michael Friedman Population is about 103,000
Abandoned causeway was built to help people cross when old bridge collapsed
+Tiantaake Mariana Thank you for letting me know, I will add a correction to the video...
Beautiful place, with the boat and bridge in the background.
+Oliwier EB Thank you!!
+Vic Stefanu Mauri (Hello) it alright, I used to watch you video and I really love them.
Loved swimming there with the local kids :)
Wow, have you been there? What an unforgettable place!
Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures yes, I worked there for a year
As @B Mart stated, it was a team effort with US Marines, Aussie Sappers and a pair of Canadian Sappers. Pacific Partnership 09 was a career highlight for me
Hi Chris, thank you for your comments... It was such a great adventure getting there, I hope I can make it back one day soon!!
There was actually another bridge similar to the one there now that we had to dismantle before putting the new one up in 2009.
I did not see the old bridge.. However, before that (new) bridge, they were using a concrete road that was uncovered during low tide, I crossed that road (all broken in pieces) and it was risky, it was so slippery..
That bridge reminds so much of the Bailey Bridge used in WW2. Is it ?. Love your video's.. Mo
This bridge was built many years after WW2.. thank you for viewing my videos!!
The bridge is an old Bailey bridge used up through Vietnam and still in mothballed storage for the army. I used to put those together. The Bailey was a pin bridge able to be erected without equipment placed by hand. Counterbalance on the land side erected and pushed across on heavy rollers bridging the gap. Put one up in Honduras back in the 1980s, a friendship bridge.
Where exactly is this at on Tarawa? I will be traveling there in May and would love to see it! Great video!
Thank you for viewing my videos. This bridge is between the islands of Bonriki and Buota, north of the international airport... you will never forget the views from here..
I look forward to it, thanks again!
Kiribati is my country 🇰🇮🇰🇮🇰🇮
Beautiful country, I hope I can come back soon!
OK already with the bridge. Is there nothing else to show in Kiribati? Its a bueatiful island !
There are several videos from Kiribati on my channel, search youtube by typing 'vic stefanu kiribati'
ow ciribati beatiful place ...
Thank you for viewing my videos!!
welcome ......
@VicStefanu...Say, Vic, if you have run a video on Iwo Jima, could you please run it again for those of us who didn't see it? I'd like to revisit the land of Ernie Pyle (?).
+Jay Young Hi Jay, no, unfortunately I have not been to Iwo Jima (it is on my list)....
Vic Stefanu Great! I'll keep a watch for it.
Is this bridge still standing?
Yes, it is.. I received a message last year that a team of New Zealanders fixed the bridge so for the next few years, it should be standing..
Tanaea to temwaiku not tanaea to Bonriki !
hahaha