Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Road bridge over the Gouritz River (First) : later rail and road bridge Albertinia district, Western Cape James MacKENZIE: Engineer

Date: 1892 : 1925 Client: Cape Colonial Government : SAR+H Type: Bridge Style: Industrial Archaeology : Utilitarian Status: Defunct

After extensive investigation along the deep Gouritz River valley, the favoured place was selected by Chief Inspector Grier. This cantilever bridge was designed by Sir Benjamin Baker. Construction commenced under the clerk of works James Chadwick, later to be joined by the site engineer, Wilhelm Westhofen, who had been engaged on the Forth Bridge, Scotland. The ironwork of this cantilever bridge was fabricated by Andrew Handyside and Co of Derby. The bridge was completed and opened on 30 March 1892. The ‘Blondin’ overhead cableway system, which had been applied used on the Orange River Bridges was also used here. (See Grace's Guide). The first bridge was originally a road bridge, but later carried road and rail traffic. In 1925 the South African Railways and Harbours Administration took over the rail line from Worcester to Forebay Junction, South Africa, from the New Cape Central Railway Company. Extensive work was undertaken to raise the standard to that of the main line including adding a rail line to the road bridge. It served until its replacement with the Rail bridge over the Gouritz River. Today (2025) it is used as a venue for bungee jumping.