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History: This bridge, which is situated just where the main road to the Strand and Sir Lowry’s Pass leaves the town of Somerset West, marks an important event in the history of communications in South Africa. In the 1840’s the roads of the Cape Colony were in a deplorable state, so the Government decided in 1843 to establish a Central Road Board with six appointed members, three of whom were to be officials. John Montagu, the Colonial Secretary, was the driving force behind this body.
One of the first tasks undertaken by the Board was the construction of a hard road over the Cape Flats from Cape Town to Eerste River, since this route was barely negotiable at that time. The work was completed in 1845.
This work was rounded off in 1845 by the construction of a bridge across the Eerste River and another over the Lourens River at Somerset West. These works, together with the construction of the road over Hottentots Holland Kloof (Sir Lowry’s Pass) for the first time ensured satisfactory communication between Cape Town and the interior of the country.
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Condition: Fair
Construction Date: 1845
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Catalogue: Somerset West Structure Plan, No: 82, Significance Category: