Cavenagh Bridge

Cavenagh Bridge is the only suspension bridge and one of the oldest bridges in Singapore, spanning the lower reaches of the Singapore River in the Downtown Core. Opened in 1869[1] to commemorate Singapore's new Crown colony of the Straits Settlements status in 1867, it is the oldest bridge in Singapore that exists in its original form.

Cavenagh Bridge

加文纳桥
Jambatan Cavenagh
Coordinates1°17′12″N 103°51′08″E
CarriesPedestrians and bicycles (vehicles, rickshaws, horse and ox carts in the past)
CrossesSingapore River
LocaleDowntown Core, Singapore
Official nameCavenagh Bridge
Characteristics
DesignCable-stayed bridge
Total length79.25 m
Width9.45 m
Longest span60.96 m
History
DesignerColonel Collyer, Rowland Mason Ordish
Constructed byClutha Ironworks and P&W Maclellan, Glasgow Engineers
Opened1869
Statistics
Designated15 October 2019 (2019-10-15)
Location

History
Cavenagh Bridge, P&W Maclellan marker

Originally known as the Edinburgh Bridge to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, its name was changed to Cavenagh Bridge in honour of Major General Orfeur Cavenagh, the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements, who governed from 1859 to 1867.[2] The coat of arms of the Cavenagh family can still be seen atop the signage at both ends of the bridge.

Cavenagh Bridge linked the Civic District on the northern bank to the Commercial District on the southern bank of the Singapore River. Before Cavenagh Bridge was constructed, people could only move between the two districts via a detour over Elgin Bridge or by paying 1 duit (¼ cent) for a boat ride across the river.

This bridge has elaborate suspension struts in comparison with most other suspension bridges, and is the third bridge to be built in Singapore. It was constructed in 1869 to allay the inconvenience of crossing the Singapore River by boat. Numerous steel rivets were used in its construction, which employed steel casting methods commonly used during that era.

The bridge was designed by the colonial Public Works Department's John Turnbull Thomson and constructed by the P&W Maclellan, Glasgow Engineers at a cost of Straits $80,000. Built and tested in Glasgow to withstand a load four times its own weight, it was shipped to Singapore in parts and reassembled in 1869 by convict labour before opening to traffic a year later. Rickshaws and ox carts used the Cavenagh Bridge to cross Singapore River. Subsequently, the bridge became overloaded due to the flourishing trade on the Singapore River in the late 1880s.

The 1910s police notice at each end of the bridge still stands till today.

When Cavenagh Bridge became unable to cope with the increasing traffic into town and its low draught was insufficient for the passage of boats at high tide, the government decided to build the Anderson Bridge in 1910 to replace Cavenagh Bridge. Cavenagh Bridge was eventually spared from demolition and was converted to a pedestrian bridge, with the road traffic diverted to the Anderson Bridge. A police notice, which is still preserved until today, was thus erected at both ends of the bridge restricting the passage of vehicles that weighed beyond 3 cwt (152 kilograms or 336 pounds), including cattle and horses. The sign reads:

POLICE NOTICE
CAVENAGH BRIDGE
THE USE OF THIS BRIDGE IS PROHIBITED TO ANY VEHICLE OF WHICH THE LADEN WEIGHT EXCEEDS 3 CWT. AND TO ALL CATTLE AND HORSES
BY ORDER
CHIEF POLICE OFFICER.

Cavenagh Bridge today

Cavenagh Bridge is currently a pedestrian bridge, with lighting added in 1990 to accentuate its architectural features at nightfall.[2] It now provides the most convenient pedestrian link between the cultural district at the north bank and the commercial district to the south of the Singapore River, and complements the renovated Fullerton Hotel (previously Fullerton Building) which is sited beside the bridge.

There are numerous sculpture works near the Cavenagh Bridge, including a family of Singapura cats (kucinta or drain cats), recognised as one of the smallest breeds of cats in the world, located at the southwest abutment.

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

On 15 October 2019, the National Heritage Board gazetted the Cavenagh Bridge, along with Anderson Bridge and Elgin Bridge (collectively known as the Singapore River Bridges) as the 73rd National Monument of Singapore.[1][3] 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.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. "Singapore River Bridges gazetted as Singapore's 73rd National Monument" (PDF). NHB. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  2. G. Chandradas, Tien Chung Ping (21 August 2008). "Bridging the gap", The Straits Times.
  3. Ang, Prisca (15 October 2019). "Another $15 million in restoration funds for owners of national monuments". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  4. "Singapore River Bridges and the Padang to be gazetted as National Monuments" (PDF). NHB. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  5. "Padang, Singapore River Bridges to be gazetted as national monuments". CNA. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  • Ilsa Sharp, (2005), The Journey - Singapore's Land Transport Story, SNP: Editions, ISBN 981-248-101-X
  • Peter K G Dunlop (2000), Street Names of Singapore, Who's Who Publishing, ISBN 981-4062-11-1
  • Cavenagh Bridge at Structurae
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