Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge, International road bridge at Orange River border between Oranjemund and Alexander Bay, Namibia and South Africa
The Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge is an international road bridge spanning the Orange River to connect Oranjemund in Namibia with Alexander Bay in South Africa. The structure measures approximately 915 meters long and 3.65 meters wide, serving as a key crossing point between the two nations.
Construction started in 1950 and finished that same year, with the official opening held in 1951. A structural upgrade followed in 1953 to increase its capacity for growing traffic demands.
The bridge bears the name of Ernest Oppenheimer, a central figure in the diamond mining industry who influenced the development of southern Africa.
Visitors should know this is the westernmost crossing of the Orange River, located just kilometers from the Atlantic coast. Crossing between the two countries requires border procedures that should be checked beforehand.
The bridge required reconstruction in 1953, enhancing its capacity to support transportation between the diamond mining communities of both nations.
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