Paul Sauer Bridge

#Paul Sauer Bridge The Paul Sauer Bridge, also known as the Storms River Bridge, is 160 km from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape and spans the impressive Storms River Gorge on South Africa's Garden Route.The reinforced concrete arch-bridge takes the N2 (National Route 2), connecting Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, across the Storms River Gorge. The river passes 128 m below the road. The reinforced bridge deck is 191 m in length and the bridge's arch span is 100 m. It is a marvel of architecture and engineering, designed by Italian Riccardo Morandi. The bridge-building project was completed in 1956. An arch bridge transfers the weight of the bridge down along the arch to the abutments where, in the case of the Paul Sauer Bridge, the arch meets the gorge/ canyon walls.

Visitors can not only enjoy the sight of the Storms River Gorge below, but can also engage in a number of adventure activities offered in the region. Amongst other activities, mostly operated from nearby Storms River Village, you can abseil an 80 m cliff face in the Gorge below the bridge, do black-water tubing in the Storms River in the base of the Gorge or ride a 22 km mountain bike trail through forests and plantations to the mouth of the River (eastern bank).