The Gourits River Bridge
The Bridge over the Gourits River was built between 1891 and 1892. It was originally designed as a road bridge. In 1906, it was modified to accommodate both road and rail traffic when the New Cape Central Railway (NCCR) laid tracks across it. It has a total length of 270 meters, divided into four spans Two steel towers 60 m high were built and great cantilevers in steel were built to span the 214 m over the river. The main span, measuring 105 meters is supported by two pairs of diagonal reinforced concrete struts. In 1906 the private New Cape Central Railway was allowed to lay tracks on the bridge. This increased the load beyond the capacity it was originally designed to take.
For about 40 years this single-track bridge accommodated both road traffic and railway trains. In 1931 the railways built their own steel triple-trestled viaduct across the river.
Old Gourits River bridge
. A third bridge was built downstream in the early 1970s but the only activity today on this structure is bungy jumping.
34°11′07.8″S 21°45′10.0″E
