Nelson Mandela Bridge completed
The early 2000s saw plans to rejuvenate Johannesburg’s inner city, beginning with the Newtown precinct that lies adjacent to the central business district (CBD). It was proposed that a bridge be constructed to link the CBD with Braamfontein – and thereby the rest of Johannesburg – as this would draw new interest to the historical centre of town. Bearing the name of an icon, the bridge itself would need to be an iconic addition to the city skyline.
Today, the Johannesburg skyline would seem incomplete without this landmark structure. It has become a proud centrepiece, synonymous with the rejuvenated inner-city culture. Indeed, the bridge links some of Johannesburg’s most well-known cultural attractions, such as the Constitutional Court and the Civic Theatre, with Mary Fitzgerald Square and the Market Theatre.
