Anderson Bridge (Singapore)

Anderson Bridge Jambatan Anderson 安德逊桥 அண்டர்சன் பாலம்
Coordinates	1°17′14″N103°51′11″E / 1.28728°N 103.853°E / 1.28728; 103.853
Carries	Pedestrians and bicycles (Motor vehicles in the past)
Crosses	Singapore River
Locale	Singapore River, Singapore
Official name	Anderson Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Truss bridge
Total length	70 metres
Width	28 metres
History
Opened	1910;113 years ago (1910)
Statistics
National monument of Singapore
Designated	15 October 2019;3 years ago (2019-10-15)
Reference no.	73
Location

Anderson Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that spans across the Singapore River. It is located near the river's mouth in the Downtown Core Planning Area of Singapore's Central Area.

The bridge was completed in 1910, ^[1] and was named after the Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States (1904–1911), Sir John Anderson, who officially opened the bridge on 12 March 1910. ^[2] It forms part of the Singapore Grand Prix's Marina Bay Street Circuit, which debuted on 28 September 2008.

On 15 October 2019, the bridge, along with Cavenagh Bridge and Elgin Bridge (collectively known as the Singapore River Bridges) was gazetted by the National Heritage Board as the 73rd National Monument of Singapore.

History

Aerial perspective of Anderson Bridge over the Singapore River

Anderson Bridge was built under oversight of Municipal Engineer Robert Peirce with the intention to replace the overloaded Cavenagh Bridge as the link between the government administrative area in the Civic District on the northern bank and the Commercial District (now Raffles Place) on the southern bank of the Singapore River. Due to the flourishing trade on the Singapore River by the 1880s, Cavenagh Bridge could not support the increasingly heavy traffic into town. Despite the building of Ord Bridge and Read Bridge, the traffic situation did not improve and in fact worsened following the widening of Battery Road. Its low draught was also insufficient for the passage of boats at high tide. However, when Anderson Bridge was completed in 1910, Cavenagh Bridge was spared from demolition and was converted to a pedestrian bridge, with all vehicles being diverted to Anderson Bridge.

Anderson Bridge was constructed between 1908 and 1910, as a joint venture between the colonial government and the Municipality after the reclamation of the south bank of the Singapore River. Construction of bridge cost £50,000 and was carried out by Howarth Erskine Ltd while the abutments were built by the Westminster Construction Company Limited. ^{[2] [3]}

The bridge comprises three steel arches with supporting steel ribs extending across them, two rusticated archways and a fluted pier at each end.

During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942–1945), the severed heads of criminals were hung on Anderson Bridge as a warning to discourage citizens from breaking the law.

Anderson Bridge, as seen from Queen Elizabeth Walk.

In the 1990s, due again to the increasing vehicular traffic flow between the northern and southern bank of the Singapore River, the Esplanade Bridge was built to provide faster access between Marina Centre and the financial district of Shenton Way. Construction of the 260-metre-long (850 ft) bridge in front of the mouth of the Singapore River began in early 1994 and was completed in 1997.

Anderson Bridge currently still serves as a vehicular bridge, and connects the financial district directly to City Hall. The bridge is located near The Fullerton Hotel (previously Fullerton Building) and the Former Merlion Park. It also forms a distinctive part of the F1 Singapore Street Circuit.

On 3 November 2008, the bridge was selected for conservation as part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's expanded conservation programme. ^[4]

On 15 October 2019, the National Heritage Board gazetted Anderson Bridge, along with Cavenagh Bridge and Elgin Bridge (collectively known as the Singapore River Bridges) as the 73rd National Monument of Singapore. ^{[5] [6]} This was first announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on 3 August 2019, where the Padang is included as a future National Monument. ^{[7] [8]}

On 5 November 2021, authorities announced the conversion of Anderson Bridge to full pedestrianization from end December 2021, to increase the Civic District's walkability. The bridge was later converted to a pedestrian bridge, with all vehicles being diverted to Esplanade Bridge again. ^[9]

See also

• List of bridges in Singapore
• The Fullerton Hotel

References

1. G. Chandradas, Tien Chung Ping (21 August 2008). "Bridging the gap", The Straits Times.
2. "The Anderson Bridge". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 14 March 1910. p. 5.
3. Hao, Wan Meng (2011). Heritage Places of Singapore. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd. ISBN   9789812618580.
4. Suan Chiang, Tay (4 October 2008). "Twelve iconic structures". The Straits Times . Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
5. "Singapore River Bridges gazetted as Singapore's 73rd National Monument" (PDF). NHB. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
6. Ang, Prisca (15 October 2019). "Another $15 million in restoration funds for owners of national monuments". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
7. "Singapore River Bridges and the Padang to be gazetted as National Monuments" (PDF). NHB. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
8. "Padang, Singapore River Bridges to be gazetted as national monuments". CNA. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
9. "Connaught Drive and Anderson Bridge to be pedestrian-only from end-December". CNA. 5 November 2021.