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Swartkops River’s Golden Gate Bridge

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Swartkops River's Golden Gate Bridge
Swartkops River’s Golden Gate Bridge. Original Image: www.nmbt.co.za

I confess – this article originally started as a concept for April Fools Day – as a follow up to this recent article on MyPE: Could THIS be the real reason why the Swartkops River is so polluted? – but the more I looked at that choked Swartkops River Mouth the more I thought that the key to unlocking waterfront living AND ensuring that healing cleaning salt water can range far up the Swartkops River is to unchoke the Swartkops River mouth.

Aerial shots show that the road along the coast from just past Algorax and the Sewage works has contributed to choking the river’s natural flow.

So what we need is a Golden Gate type bridge which frees up the entire river mouth from Algorax to Bluewater Bay/Amsterdamhoek.

The eventual freeing of the river mouth will open up possibilities for our Marine Economy – maybe someone with the right vision will be able to tap into Operation Phakisa with this idea? I am seeing a renewed interest in waterfront living, a marina or two for river boats, yachts and ocean going vessels, an iconic structure that will bring eyes onto Nelson Mandela Bay and money spent on properly respecting our environment.

So – how do we swing this into action? Who has the skills to champion and investigate?

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.

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  1. That bridge would be yours truly’s 18 Year Old “WOOLHOPE MEMORIAL BRIDGE” Idea … Flying-over the Swartkops River and Connecting MOTHERWELL Township to the PERSEVERANCE Industrial Area. Dedicated to the MOSTLY Woolhope Secondary School’s pupils who passed away in a School Transport ACCIDENT in 1998 ; from Motherwell TO School in Malabar. Yours truly’s Homage , as Woolhope Secondary School’s 1996 Deputy Head Boy. The Nelson Mandela Bay MUNICIPALITY Knows about this Idea. ?????