John Ross Bridge (South Africa)

John Ross Bridge
Coordinates29°10′24.18″S 31°26′18.02″E / 29.1733833°S 31.4383389°E / -29.1733833; 31.4383389
Carries R102 Regional Route
CrossesTugela River
LocaleKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Characteristics
Total length412.5 metres (1,353 ft)
Height25 metres (approx)
Longest span55 metres
History
Construction costR9.3 million
Opened31 October 1988 (rebuilt)
Location

The John Ross Bridge is a steel reinforced concrete bridge spanning the Tugela River, located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The bridge sits on the R102 regional route from Durban to Richards Bay, crossing the river close to the township of Mandini. The original bridge was completed in 1959 after a fast construction period of just 3 years, but was rebuilt after the 1987 KwaZulu-Natal floods in what is believed to be record time for a structure of its size. The bridge comprises a span of approximately 412.5m and is founded on concrete caissons bored a depth of approximately 18m to the bedrock below the river bed.