R26-million Sandton Drive Link Bridge creates a secure sky-walk between Rivonia Road and Alice Lane, knitting The Place and Sandton City into one vibrant whole.
On 25 June 2025, Growthpoint Properties put spade to soil and imagination to steel, launching a R26 million pedestrian bridge that will soar over Sandton Drive and fuse two of Joburg’s busiest anchors: The Place at 1 Sandton Drive and the retail mecca of Sandton City. The move is part of the REIT’s ongoing mission to stitch the Sandton precinct into an easy-to-walk, people-first grid.
Where it lands & why it matters
The angular span sits exactly between Rivonia Road and Alice Lane, where six lanes of fast-moving traffic once dared pedestrians to sprint. Now office workers, shoppers, US-Consulate visitors and weekend strollers can float above the rush hour safely, shaving up to ten pedestrian-minutes off the crossing and adding priceless peace of mind.
Design that dazzles (and changes colour)
Architects opted for an all-weather, maintenance-friendly stainless-steel shell, wrapping a balustraded walkway that culminates in a glass-box viewing deck. At dusk the deck lights up in programmable hues—think gold for Heritage Day, pink for Breast-Cancer Month—turning a simple bridge into an ever-changing urban lantern.
Built like Lego, assembled like art
Stainless-steel ribs and the luminous glass cube are being prefabricated off-site, while concrete piers spring up on either verge of Sandton Drive. Once the heavy lifting is done, crews will “click” the pieces into place during overnight road closures—minimising both traffic snarls and carbon footprint.
Voices from the precinct
- Neil Schloss, Head of Asset Management, Growthpoint: “A long-held vision is finally airborne; we’re delivering on our promise to tenants and the wider city.”
- Timothy Irvine, Head of Asset Management—Offices: “For our clients at The Place, the bridge is not just a perk; it’s a value-multiplier.”
- Dimitri Kokinos, GM Sandton City & Nelson Mandela Square: “This is a transformative step for urban connectivity.”
Public access & security
Daytime: wide-open flow from Sandton City’s upper deck (near Woolworths) straight onto The Place balcony.
Night-time: controlled but convenient access for authorised users, weaving safety and flexibility together.
A bridge with ripple effects
- Safety: zero chance of jay-walking across a six-lane artery.
- Connectivity: plugs directly into Rosebank-to-Sandton cycling routes and future green-mobility plans.
- Economy: easier footfall = happier retailers, hungrier lunch crowds, livelier after-hours trade.
- Place-making: adds a photogenic landmark to Sandton’s skyline—one that literally shines at night.
What’s next?
Steel sections are already in fabrication, with on-site assembly scheduled for the coming quarters. When the final bolts tighten, Sandton Central will gain not only a bridge but a poetic ribbon of light, inviting the city to slow down, look up and keep moving forward—safely above the fray.
Also read: 80% of Johannesburg’s Bridges at Risk of Collapse: Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) Warns
