Historic Stellenbosch Bridge rebuilt with precast concrete beams

Figure: David Beer

The old bridge over the Plankenbrug River (formerly Dwars River) in Stellenbosch, South Africa, has been rebuilt by Martin & East (Pty) Ltd with nine precast concrete beams supplied by Cape Concrete

Figure: David Beer

The second beam in Phase 1 is lowered into position onto the first abutment lift

Figure: David Beer

Workers insert rebar through sleeves situated in the beams’ lower web sections

Figure: David Beer

The edge beam in Phase 1 is lowered into position

Figure: David Beer

The soffit sides of Phase 1 beams and the old central pier

Figure: David Beer

A concrete approach slab (foreground) and the concrete deck of Phase 1 prior to the installation of T-shaped suspension bracketing

Figure: David Beer

Y20 rebar spliced with extensive reinforcing

Figure: David Beer

Figure: Collections of Parliament Cape Town

Stellenbosch as rendered by artist Christopher Webb Smith in 1838, showing the old wagon road leading to the river crossing, although no bridge can be seen

Figure: Collections of Parliament Cape Town

The old bridge over the Plankenbrug River (formerly Dwars River) in Stellenbosch, South Africa, has been rebuilt by Martin & East (Pty) Ltd with nine precast concrete beams supplied by Concrete Manufacturers Association member (CMA), Cape Concrete.

The old bridge over the Plankenbrug River (formerly Dwars River) in Stellenbosch has been rebuilt by Martin & East (Pty) Ltd with nine precast concrete beams supplied by Concrete Manufacturers Association member, Cape Concrete. Designed by infrastructure consultancy AECOM SA (Pty) Ltd, the first phase of this two-phase project was completed in August 2022 and the second in February 2023.

The new bridge will provide improved access to Bosman’s Crossing, a burgeoning residential, commercial and light-industrial precinct situated in the old KWV Industrial Park immediately east of the bridge.

The...