A ponte Nelson Mandela cobre uma extensão de mais de 931 pés no centro da cidade de Joanesburgo, mas esta ponte não cruza um rio. Em vez disso, a ponte se eleva sobre mais de 40 linhas ferroviárias, ligando os bairros de Newtown e Braamfontein.
Inaugurada em 2003 pelo próprio Nelson Mandela, a Ponte Nelson Mandela é a maior ponte estaiada da África. A ponte acomoda duas faixas de tráfego de automóveis, uma ciclovia e calçadas de pedestres em ambos os lados. O design moderno tem uma aparência leve, e toda a ponte é iluminada à noite com cores variadas - é uma espécie de show de luzes no centro da cidade de Joanesburgo todas as noites.
A Ponte Nelson Mandela foi construída como parte de um projeto de rejuvenescimento no distrito comercial de Joanesburgo. Em 2011, foi usada como passarela durante a Joburg Fashion Week. Graças à ponte, agora é mais fácil passar entre atrações como o SAB World of Beer, o Sci-Bono Discovery Center, a Mary Fitzgerald Square, o Civic Theatre, o Market Theatre e o 1913 Museum Africa.
The bridge owes its lightweight appearance to modern design and has two vehicle lanes and pedestrian walkways on either side. Thanks to the bridge, it's now easier to get between attractions such as the SAB World of Beer, the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Mary Fitzgerald Square, the Civic Theatre, the Market Theatre, and the 1913 Museum Africa.
The bridge can be viewed from one of Johannesburg’s most popular roads, the M1 highway. Sightseeing tours of the city typically include a photo stop at the bridge—a great way to squeeze in a visit between other attractions such as Carlton Centre and Constitution Hill.
To get to the Nelson Mandela Bridge, take Jan Smuts Avenue (M27) in the direction of the Johannesburg city center. Drive straight through Braamfontein and keep right at the fork to drive over the bridge. The bridge is about a 15-minute walk from Constitution Hill and Johannesburg Railway Station.
The entire bridge is illuminated at night with varying colors, creating something of a light show that can be seen from the Johannesburg city center. If you want to walk over the bridge, it is best to do so only during the day, due to safety concerns.
Connected to Newtown by the Nelson Mandela Bridge, Braamfontein, or “Braam,” is one of the city’s hippest areas. The area is filled with students—and the University of Witwatersrand’s East Campus—as well as a number of young creative types. This is a great place to visit restaurants, coffee shops, contemporary art galleries, and design and fashion stores, as well as catch live music at venues such as The Orbit.
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