Work has started on the construction of an R8m pedestrian bridge over the lower Baakens River to capitalise on the precinct’s mushrooming heritage, culture and outdoor activity hub.
Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) spokesperson Luvuyo Bangazi said on Thursday that, in a first for South Africa, the 40m arch bridge would be made mostly of new generation composite materials, creating a tourism landmark and at the same time stimulating the Bay-based national composites cluster.
“As an urban renewal project, the bridge will link Port Elizabeth’s inner city to the already bustling Lower Baakens.
“It will serve as a practical connector, allowing people to park their cars in the expansive parking space on the north side of the river and then stroll across to see the restored St Peter’s church or attend, for example, a trail run, mountain bike or off-road motorbike race, or to enjoy one of the music and good food events.”
The bridge – which should be finished by September – would also ultimately help residents from the planned Lower Baakens Valley social housing to get across to the Govan Mbeki shops and taxi rank, he said.
The new bridge is one of a suite of MBDA projects unveiled in 2014, including the restoration of St Peter’s and the extension and upgrading of Vuyisile Mini Square, both of which are complete.
The square now stretches down via a paved walkway on the south side of the old post office to link with the new pedestrian bridge, which branches across the Baakens from Produce Street.
Built in 1875 in St Mary’s Cemetery above Lower Valley Road, St Peter’s was the sacred heart of Old South End before and during the 1960s apartheid forced removals.
The Black Steps – a famous thoroughfare for activists fleeing from the authorities – lead up to the church opposite what will be the south side of the new bridge.
This easy access to the church and restored Tramways building, often the centre of Lower Baakens activities, was what guided the site choice for the new project, Bangazi said.
Project manager Thandie Mafu said they had chosen to go the majority-composites route in keeping with the MBDA mission to always push for innovation. Taking the opportunity to boost the Bay’s leading role in this sector, based at the Propella Incubator just up the road, had also made sense.
The strength of the composite material, its flexibility, relatively light weight, low maintenance, corrosive-resistant and green qualities – it took less energy to produce than steel – also made it attractive.
“There was a 3% increase in the capital cost over going only with traditional steel and timber, but we will easily recoup this in reduced maintenance.”
The bridge would be built at an angle to help prevent debris being trapped during heavy rains, and the arch would raise the structure 3.37m at its mid-point, out of the reach of flooding, she said.
Lights would be cast into the railings which would curve up overhead.
Bridge-building was a specialised field and the use of composites for the first time made the project extra challenging, but the MBDA team and the contractor had strived to involve small, medium and micro-enterprises, Bangazi said.
“As a public sector entity, it’s important to lead the way in terms of creating jobs.
“So eight enterprises have been brought on board to work on paving and kerbing and the construction of retaining walls and wheelchair ramps – 30% of the works budget amounting to R2.6m has been allocated to them.”
The contract team of engineers, managers, foremen and heritage and environmental consultants had also committed to employ a minimum of 10 workers from the Central area and a community liaison officer and a student from Nelson Mandela University studying in the construction field.
“This last is in line with President [Cyril] Ramaphosa’s call, in his state of the nation address, for work barriers to be lowered to allow deserving students access to the workplace.”
More than 1,000 people responded to the MBDA’s call for design ideas, helping to shape the milestone development.
Now the agency is putting out another question to the public – what colour should the bridge be painted?
Suggestions should go to create@mbda.co.za