Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Road Bridge over the Kowie River - Henry Putt Bridge Port Alfred, Eastern Cape PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: Engineer

Date: 1989 Type: Bridge Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 33°35'28.39" S 26°53'13.95" E

This bridge replaced the single carriageway bridge opened in 1908 and a dual carriageway bridge opened in 1928. There is a memorial alongside "... dedicated to the Civil Engineers of South Africa and their teams who opened up the country and continue to improve the quality of life of all its people". The memorial incorporates the foundation and unveiling stones of the original bridge and was unveiled in 2001. A transcription of both stones reads as follows: First stone HENRY PUTT BRIDGE FOUNDATION STONE LAID BY HIS EXCELLENCY SIR WALTER F. HELY-HUTCHINSON GCMG SEPTEMBER 1ST 1906. Second Stone: BRIDGE DESIGNED BY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF F W WALDRON A.M.I.C.E., INSPECTING ENGINEER WAS OPENED FOR TRAFFIC 15 SEPTEMBER 1908 BY THE HON D. P. DE VILLIERS GRAAF M.L.C. CHIEF ENGINEER P.W.D. - W. CRAIG A.M.I.C.E. CLERK OF WORKS - Wm. PURSE CONTRACTORS - Messrs KNIGHT & FOLKESTAD Transcription provided by Dick Schuurman Curator: Kowie History Museum Submitted by William MARTINSON The postcard on the right shows the earlier bridge.