R26 million bridge opens at major South African mall

Growthpoint Properties has officially opened the R26 million Sandton Drive Link Bridge between The Place at 1 Sandton Drive and Sandton City.

Spanning the key arterial route of Sandton Drive, the new pedestrian bridge directly connects Growthpoint’s premium office building, The Place at 1 Sandton Drive, with Sandton City shopping centre.

Designed for safety, accessibility and visual impact, the bridge significantly improves convenience for tenants of The Place.

The development also makes it safer for pedestrians to move through Sandton Central, South Africa’s leading business district.

By directly linking the two buildings, the bridge also connects commercial, retail, residential and public spaces in Sandton Central and Sandown.

It also provides street-level pedestrian access convenient for those accessing the services of the United States Consulate, which neighbours The Place.

The new bridge was developed in close partnership with Sandton City, the Sandton Central Management District and the City of Johannesburg, and is

This project is the result of years of planning and a shared commitment to the future of Sandton’s economic hub.

“Sandton Drive Link Bridge is a safe crossing that stands as a beacon to the persistence and partnerships that got this project across the line,” said Growthpoint Properties CEO Estienne de Klerk.

“Thank you to everyone who believed in this vision and made it a reality. This is an investment that will benefit countless people for many years to come.”

Representatives of Growthpoint, Sandton City, and its co-owners, Liberty, Standard Bank Group, and Pareto Limited, were among the first to walk across the bridge.

The bridge’s professional team and tenants of 1 Sandton Drive also participated. Representatives of the Sandton Central Management District, the United States Consulate, and members of the media joined the opening.

These stakeholders all crossed over Sandton Drive during the official opening ceremony, which was held on 12 December 2025.

Growthpoint eyes Sandton Central

The bridge underscores Growthpoint’s continued investment in its core portfolio, driven by active asset management and a commitment to precinct-led value creation.

“This is placemaking in action,” explained Growthpoint’s Head of Asset Management: Offices, Timothy Irvine.

“We’ve enhanced the value and positioning of The Place while improving the safety and experience of everyone moving through this important node.”

Constructed with a focus on durability, safety and design, the bridge features stainless steel balustrades, a glass-covered viewing deck, and lighting that adds a dynamic presence to the Sandton skyline.

Growthpoint explained that its investment in Sandton Central goes beyond its property ownership. Its assets include buildings adjacent to The Place and Sandton City, such as The Towers in Alice Lane.

The portfolio also includes the Discovery head office, which anchors the Sandton Summit mixed-use precinct. This precinct is where the major residential development, Olympus Sandton, has recently started construction.

Growthpoint Properties’ Head of Asset Management, Neil Schloss, explained that through projects like the Sandton Drive Link Bridge, Growthpoint continues to shape South Africa’s leading urban environments.

The company aims to create places where people, business and investment thrive. “It reflects our strategy of value-adding investment in our quality portfolio of core assets and precincts,” Schloss added.

Sandton City’s R26 million bridge