Barkly West Old Bridge - Vaal River

South Africa / Northern Cape / Barkly West /
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Barkly West Old Bridge over Vaal River
The iron Barkly Bridge, the first over the Vaal River, was transported in sections from the United Kingdom (by sea, rail and, over the last more than 100 km by ox wagon) and erected across the Vaal in 1885. A steel plate gives details of its manufacture: "Westwood, Baillie & Co, Engineers and Contractors, London 1884."[5] Shops in Kimberley and Barkly West closed for the occasion when the bridge was opened. A new bridge was built alongside in the 1970s. The toll house erected to recover revenues from those using the old bridge now serves as a museum, opened in 2000.
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Coordinates:   28°33'0"S   24°31'58"E
This article was last modified 14 years ago