Nelson Mandela Bridge, Johannesburg

The Nelson Mandela Bridge links the city’s two main business areas – Newtown (the CBD) and Braamfontein. An elegant suspension bridge, it is 284 meters in length and opened in 2003. Unlike many major road bridges, it does not cross a river or lake. Johannesburg is one of the largest cities in the world not to have been built on a river, lake or coastline. It instead crosses forty-two railway lines, as they converge, leading into the main railway station. Since the bridge opened, it has greatly improved traffic connections in this expanding, disparate metropolis.

A bridge, linking the two areas, was first suggested by town planners in 1993, as part of the city centre’s regeneration plan. Developers Steve Thorne and Gordon Gibson suggested the bridge be named after Nelson Mandela, who at that time was uniting the nation through his election campaign. Whilst the project was shelved for many years, the name has remained.

The bridge was designed by Dissing & Weitling, and is built from concrete and steel. A road and pedestrian bridge, it was renovated prior to the 2010 World Cup, when new lights were installed. The new lights, alternate through the colour spectrum, created one of the city’s most attractive landmarks once the sun goes down.