Nelson Mandela Bridge, Road bridge in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Nelson Mandela Bridge is a cable-stayed road bridge 284 metres long, crossing 42 railway lines west of Park Station and linking Braamfontein with Newtown. Two white pylons, 42 and 27 metres tall, carry fanned cables down to a steel and concrete composite deck with two lanes and pedestrian walkways on either side.

The bridge opened in 2003 at a cost of 38 million rand and was the fourth of five crossings built west of Park Station. Construction aimed to reconnect neighborhoods after decades of separation.

The name honors South Africa's first democratically elected president and shows the intention to link different parts of the city center. Today pedestrians and cyclists cross daily as part of their commute or when exploring downtown Johannesburg.

The two walkways and bicycle lane allow safe crossing of the 42 train tracks below between the two neighborhoods. At night the structure is lit and remains open for pedestrians and cyclists.

The two pylons have deliberately different heights: the northern reaches 42 meters and the southern 27 meters. This asymmetric design allows the structure to adapt to the elevation difference between the two neighborhoods.