Gouritz River Cantilever Bridge
On the Mossel Bay - Albertina route in South Africa
Cantilever Bridge
After extensive invetigation 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. 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. [1]
The first bridge was originally a road bridge, but later carried road and rail traffic.
Photos of cantilever bridge here and here
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.
Later Bridges
1931-2 A new trestle bridge for rail use was built across the Gouritz River in the Mossel Bay district for the upgraded line, see: 1931 photo
1978 Subsequently another bridge was built beside that one: two bridges
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ WAGON BRIDGES OF THE EASTERN CAPE, c.1840 – 1900 - THE CONTRIBUTION OF ENGINEERING TO INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT. A PhD thesis submitted by DENNIS E. WALTERS, Rhodes University, January 2018