Victoria Falls bridge readies for 120 year celebrations

THE iconic Victoria Falls Bridge, a marvel of early 20th-century engineering, is set to celebrate its 120th anniversary next year.
Since its opening in 1905, the bridge has stood as a testament to human ingenuity and resilience. Engineers involved in the bridge’s maintenance express hope that it will continue to serve for another century.

The Victoria Falls Bridge, which spans the Zambezi River and connects Zimbabwe and Zambia, remains a vital transportation link and a significant tourist attraction. Its enduring presence and functionality are a result of continuous maintenance and preservation efforts.

As the bridge approaches this milestone, engineers are focused on ensuring its longevity through rigorous inspections and necessary restorations. They emphasise that with proper care, the bridge can continue to serve as a symbol of historical significance and architectural excellence for future generations.

The bridge was the inspiration of Cecil John Rhodes, who envisioned a structure where trains would catch the spray of the Falls as they passed. It was designed by Mr George Hobson of Sir Douglas Fox and Partners.

He was assisted by a certain Ralph Freeman, who later in life became involved in the design of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as the Birchenough Bridge across Save River in Manicaland Province.

In May 1903 Rhodesia Railways awarded the contract for the construction of the bridge to The Cleveland Bridge Company of Darlington, England, for a price of £72 000 pounds sterling.

The entire bridge was fabricated in Darlington, England and then shipped in parts through the port of Beira, Mozambique and then transported by rail to Victoria Falls.

At the time of its construction, it was the highest railway bridge in the world. The steel structure spanning the gorge opened up central Africa for goods and traffic.

Cecil John Rhodes had the original vision of linking Zimbabwe to Zambia and in 1900 he commissioned the building of the Victoria Falls Bridge.

The bridge is located at the second gorge and has wonderful views of the gorge itself on one side and the falls on the other.

The Victoria Falls Bridge is 128m above the valley floor, giving visitors a spectacular view of the green Zambezi River below, the dark rock face and lush foliage.

It is 250 metres wide with the main arch spanning 156,5 metres.

The gorge is considered to be no man’s land and has border posts on either side.

Thousands of people and vehicles cross over the bridge, which is also the high adrenaline adventure site for bungee jumping down 111 metres facing the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel on the southern side and the waterfall on the northern side.

Both the bridge and hotel building belong to the Emerged Railways Properties (ERP), a company co-owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia through the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Zambia Railways.

The properties were left by Rhodes for the company.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development toured the bridge recently to assess its state.

ERP manager Eng Logan Nyasulu said periodic maintenance is done on the bridge to ensure it is safe.

Only one car is allowed on the single-lane bridge at a time and heavy vehicles pay some toll fees to access it.

English Nyasulu said ERP contracted an international company to maintain the bridge every five years.

“Commercial vehicles pay a tolling fee to ERP and the money is used to maintain the bridge. Money to repair the bridge was coming from the hotel and now it is coming from the toll fees. An international company comes every five years to check while every September Zambia and Zimbabwe also come to check,” he said.

“Every quarter a company checks and if the bridge develops a problem we have to work on it. So according to a report done after the five-year assessment in 2022, the bridge still has 100 years and it is still safe.”

The railway crosses the river parallel to the road. Construction of the bridge was necessitated by the arrival of the railway line to Victoria Falls in 1904.

The first train, driven by two women, had 37 people and its arrival marked the beginning of tourism in the city which has developed into independent Zimbabwe’s tourism capital, with the bridge one of the major attractions.

The wooden Victoria Falls Hotel was built to accommodate railway and bridge construction workers.—@ncubeleon