Black Bridge, Road bridge in Wellington, India

The Black Bridge, now the Manekshaw Bridge, is a 43.5-metre road bridge in Wellington spanning the Mynala stream, which joins the Coonoor River 2 kilometres downstream. It links Wellington Cantonment with the Ooty–Coonoor road, NH181. The present structure dates from a complete demolition and rebuilding after 2005.

The Black Bridge was first built in 1858 but collapsed before completion. It was rebuilt in 1878 in wood and named Waterloo Bridge, as it marked the start of Waterloo Road leading to the present-day Madras Regimental Centre. Declared unsafe in the 1950s, its wooden decking was replaced with concrete in 1963; deemed unsafe again in 2005, it was demolished and completely rebuilt, taking the name Manekshaw Bridge in 2009.

Locals call it Black Bridge because the 1878 wooden structure was Burmese teak coated with black tar; the official name Waterloo Bridge referred to Waterloo Road, which climbs to the Madras Regimental Centre. Since 2009 the crossing is officially Manekshaw Bridge, and a statue of Field Marshal Manekshaw stands where it meets NH 181.

The bridge carries the road from Wellington Cantonment to NH181 over the Mynala stream, so expect vehicle traffic rather than a footpath. The current structure dates from the post-2005 demolition and rebuild, with a concrete deck replacing the 1963 concrete-over-wood arrangement. Approach from the NH181 junction, where the Manekshaw statue stands.

A statue of Field Marshal Manekshaw stands at the junction where the bridge meets National Highway 181. This monument marks a point where visitors can observe both the engineering structure and the historical memorial together.