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All South Africa Cape Town Foreshore Freeway Bridge

Foreshore Freeway Bridge

Despite many attempts to finish this overpass, it has been abandoned since the 1970s.

Cape Town, South Africa

Added By
Henrik Johansson
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The Foreshore Freeway Bridge.   Paul Mannix/cc by 2.0
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
The Foreshore Freeway Bridge.   elyob/cc by-sa 2.0
The Foreshore Freeway Bridge.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
The Foreshore Freeway Bridge at night.   Damien du Toit/cc by 2.0
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About

The Foreshore Freeway Bridge, also known as Cape Town's "unfinished bridge," was part of a big infrastructure project that was conceptualized in the late 1960s. Traffic congestion was predicted to increase in the years to come, and a ring highway was suggested as a solution to foster better traffic flow with as little disturbance as possible.

The construction started in the early 1970s but stopped without any clear explanation in 1977. Its sudden end has spawned urban legends that try to explain why the construction came to such an abrupt halt.

One theory is that a shopkeeper refused to sell his property so the bridge could pass though it, effectively grinding construction to a halt. Another one is that a construction error made it impossible to link the two ends of the bridge together.

Numerous attempts to finish construction have been made over the years, but have all failed for one reason or another. As recently as February 2018, a contractor was chosen to complete the unfinished highways but work was, once again, halted, this time because of alleged tender irregularities.

For the time being, the bridge will stay the way it is and continue to be used as a parking space, the backdrop for TV shows and fashion shoots, or maybe again as a stand for a giant vuvuzela like it was during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Related Tags

Bridges Roads Infrastructure Urban Planning Abandoned
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Added By

hrnick

Edited By

Carnival, Martin, Collector of Experiences

  • Carnival
  • Martin
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

October 2, 2018

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Sources
  • https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cape-town-unfinished-freeway
  • https://af.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idAFJOE65H0MC20100618
  • https://ewn.co.za/2018/07/18/end-of-the-road-for-ct-s-foreshore-freeway-precinct-development
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreshore_Freeway_Bridge
  • http://geographical.co.uk/places/cities/item/2224-south-africa-s-highway-to-nowhere
Foreshore Freeway Bridge
Helen Suzman Blvd
Cape Town, 8000
South Africa
-33.914709, 18.421819
Get Directions

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