East River suspension bridge

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The suspension bridge of the East River, also known as the English Bridge, is an iconic art work of the island of Reunion, located on the border between Sainte-Rose and Saint-Benoît. Inaugurated in 1894, he crossed a river with unpredictable floods, replacing pedestrian walkways and submersible radiers. With a range of 152 meters, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world on delivery, marking a technical feat for the time.

Construction of the bridge was initiated in 1862 by engineer Pierre-Joseph Bonnin, but the construction site was interrupted in 1867 due to an economic crisis. Launched in 1888 after an accident endangering a local delegation, the project opposed two proposals: Gustave Eiffel (a steel arch bridge) and Ferdinand Arnodin (a metal suspension bridge). The choice was on the latter, less expensive, using the masonry batteries already built by Bonnin. Made in metropolis from 1892, the bridge was delivered two years later.

Resistant to cyclones and major flooding in 1927, the bridge remained in service until 1979 when a concrete structure replaced it. Ranked a historic monument in 2018 after registration in 2014, it was closed in 2016 due to old age and then renovated thanks to the Heritage Lotto. Reopened in December 2023, it is now dedicated to pedestrians, offering a rare testimony of 19th-century engineering in ultramarine territories.

The bridge is distinguished by its 150-metre wooden deck, supported by 103 km of cables, 61 tons of sheet metal and 25 tons of cast iron. Its history reflects the logistical and economic challenges of La Réunion Coloniale, where infrastructure had to cope with a rugged terrain and a demanding tropical climate. Today, it embodies both a technical heritage and a symbol of local resilience.

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