Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Mackay Bridge over the Sunday’s River

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

The Sundays River is the Eastern boundary of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area and is situated right next to the Addo Elephant National Park’s southern boundary. The Khoisan people originally named this river Nukakamma (Grassy Water) because the river’s banks are always green and grassy despite the arid terrain that it runs through. It is said to be the fastest flowing river in the country. 

For many years, travellers to Grahamstown had to cross the river using a pont. Ultimately the need for a bridge was acknowledged. 

Main picture: The Mackay Bridge

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Bridges Over Troubled Water

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

River crossings for the early traveller were always time consuming and sometimes even hazardous if they were dependent upon the tides such as the drift across the Zwartkops was. Perhaps that explains the Divisional Council’s decision to place this crossing on its first to-do list after its establishment.  

This covers the trials and tribulations of the history of the Zwartkops River crossing from the use of the drift, to the pont and ultimately the various bridges and ultimately their effect on the ecosystem. 

Main picture: The Wylde Bridge across the Swartkops River. This bridge replaced the Rawson Bridge

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