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Date: c1967 Type: Archway Status: Extant   Click to view large map Coordinates: 29°44'05.11" S 27°01'47.64" E Alt: 1435m

See more photographs A steel catenary arch celebrates the approach and entrance into the town of Wepener. The arch spans the R702 road on the south side of Wepener - which in turn is accessed from the R26. Formed with welded steel plates creating a triangular box section, both sides of the catenary arch progressively taper until reaching the highest point. The transverse welded joints between each separate box section are visible on careful inspection. The structural steel is currently painted black. The form of such a catenary arch is based on a catenary, which is the natural curved line created by a chain when hanging freely from two fixed points. Each leg of the arch has a truncated triangular steel base plate with four hold down bolts on each of the three edges. This is turn is supported on a truncated triangular concrete foundation with a plastered finish with the upper faces sloping to suit the inclination of the base plate. Signage was added at some later date, below the top of the arch, using two transverse steel beams welded in place. At some stage the lower beam was removed - probably hit by a passing truck - and the signage was modified and raised which has unfortunately concealed the crest of the arch on the approach into Wepener. The sign currently reads "Mangaung - at the heart of it all. Welcome to Wepener". The Wepener catenary arch is probably based on the much more substantial Gateway Arch located in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States of America designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965. While not yet confirmed it is suggested that the Wepener catenary arch might date to the centenary of Wepener in 1967. William Martinson, 2026.