Page 20 - SAICE book proof 2 LATEST JULY 2014

s a i c e
EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE

was built around 1957, it remains a popular tourist at- ◊ Below: Van Stadens Gorge Bridge
traction in itself. Upgrades in the road and heavier load ◊ Bottom: Groot River
requirements necessitated a novel strengthening and
widening of this 180 m long bridge by means of exter-
nally bonded steel plate reinforcement in 1986.

The southern approach of the N2 freeway was recently
widened under extremely difficult conditions as it
traverses the pristine forests. Civil engineering and the
environmental professions once more worked hand in
hand to minimise damage and to restore the natural
environment. The Garden Route is a monument to
what can be achieved since along the older parts of the
route the Fynbos and forests seem to be untouched by
human hands.

33°58′6.56″ S, 23°55′53.57″ E

3. The Tsitsikamma National road and
2. Van Stadens Gorge Bridge spans 200 m its three iconic bridges Blaauwkrans River,
over a 130 m deep ravine and in 1972 ranked among Bobbejaans River and Groot River remains a civil
the top nine concrete arch bridges in the world at the engineering feat and achievement of note. The needs
time. The total length of this magnificent bridge is 365 of modern transport necessitated a new almost straight
m and its deck width of 26 m is supported on slender road between Plettenberg Bay and Port Elizabeth. The
spandrel columns which connect the arch and the deck challenge to work within long stretches of pristine
structure. This bridge is currently being provided with nature, to bridge the deep gorges with beautiful concrete
a safety net structure as it has sadly become a popular arch bridges that would cut out the narrow and winding
site for suicide jumps in spite of various attempts to passes up and down the gorges remain a landmark
reduce the incidences. achievement for civil engineering in South Africa. The
result of ecological repair is a delight and shows that civil
engineering can produce spectacular modern amenities
33°54′32.64″S 25°11′49.32″ E and re-introduce the natural environment. The tourist