MERDEKA BRIDGE

 
merdeka bridge
the bridge
kallang basin
nicoll highway
microfilm
public works department
the straits times
hollis
bee
opening ceremony
lim yew hock
chief minister
bridge
the public works
kallang



Merdeka Bridge
By Cornelius-Takahama, Vernon written on 02-Feb-2000
National Library Board Singapore
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
 

Merdeka Bridge crosses the mouth of the Rochor and Kallang Rivers aka Kallang Basin. Merdeka (in Malay) means "freedom". The bridge in the mid-1950s symbolised the peoples' pursuit and spirit for  independence. The bridge was constructed over the Kallang Basin to link two stretches of the new Nicoll Highway. Designed by R. J. Hollis-Bee and built by the Public Works Department at a cost of $9,500,000, Merdeka Bridge and the adjoining Nicoll Highway were declared open by Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock on 17 August 1956.

History
Traffic congestion on the Geylang Road/Kallang Road on peak hours in the early 1950s, made an arterial road and coastal route, one of the City's most pressing needs. The much favoured route for the highway required a bridge over the swamp-filled Kallang Basin, and this had to be reclaimed to hold its structural foundations. Initial bridge-plan proposals were presented by R.J. Hollis-Bee, Superintending Engineer of the Public Works Department, and accepted by the Kallang Basin Committee in late 1953. Work commenced in early 1955.

Description
Original structure 609.6m long bridge, consisted of 25 spans, each 24.384m, with a dual carriageway, built over the swamp-filled Kallang Basin. The detailed design was by Brennan and R. J. Hollis-Bee, Superintending Engineer of Major Works, Public Works Department supervised the project. The contractor was Paul Y. Construction Co., with Engineer-Agent Jin Hoam Chen leading their team.

Opening Ceremony
The official opening ceremony of Merdeka Bridge and Nicoll Highway began at 5:30 pm. The Straits Times on 18 August 1956, reported that tens of thousands of people turned up to witness the event. Guard-of-Honour by the 1st Battalion Singapore Volunteer Corp. in white and gold uniforms, stood by the "Lion Monument" on the Kallang side, bridge-entrance., and the Singapore Police Force Band entertained. After a round of speeches, Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock declared the bridge and highway open. To mark the close of the ceremony, from nearby Kallang Airport came a specially-chartered aircraft that showered roses on the bridge, a contribution by the Indian Community. Chinese organisations staged a "Dragon Dance" and fired thousands of firecrackers, and the Koleh procession (koleh in Malay is a narrow, native "rowing-craft"), was organised by the Malay Community.

Lion Monuments
Two "Lion Monuments" or Merdeka Lions once stood, one at each end of the bridge. When Merdeka Bridge was widened and upgraded in 1966, they were relocated to Stadium Walk, near the entrance of of Kallang Park.  In 1987, the Public Works Department handed over the lions to the Ministry of Defence and temporarily placed them at the old Singapore Armed Forces Institute (SAFTI).  On 22 July 1995, the lions were installed at their present site, the SAFT Military Institute (SAFTI) in Upper Jurong Road. 


Today
In line with the widening of Nicoll Highway, the upgrading of the bridge enables 6-lanes of traffic flow.

Timeline 
1 Sep 1953 : Site investigations commenced.
20 Dec 1953 : The first Preliminary Report and Bridge Design submitted.
19 Feb 1954 : Final Report completed.
21 Jul 1954 : Final design completed.
6 Aug 1954 : Project Tender publicised.
24 Dec 1954 : Tender Quotation accepted and Contract awarded.
28 Feb 1955 : First Pile driven.
1 Aug 1955 : First Pier completed.
6 Oct 1955 : First Beam laid.
15 Jan 1956 : New Channel opened to river traffic.
28 Mar 1956 : Last Pile driven.
24 Apr 1956 : Last Pier completed.
5 Jun 1956 : Last beam laid.
17 Aug 1956 : Official Opening Ceremony.



Author
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama



References 
Bridging our Past (October/November 2002).  Treasures of Time.  Singapore:  Historic Sites and Public Education Units of National Archives of Singapore, p. 11.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TT)

Merdeka Bridge and Nicoll Highway: Opening ceremony by the Chief Minister, the Honourable Mr. Lim Yew Hock on August 17, 1956 [Microfilm: NL 11802]. (1956). [Singapore: Government Printing Office].
(Call no.: RCLOS 624 MER)
 
Merdeka Bridge - pride of Singapore - opened [Microfilm: NL 1821]. (1956, August 18). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Merdeka Lions get new home. [Microfilm: NL 20057]. (1995, August 24).  The Straits Times, p. 2.

The rush to cross the Merdeka Bridge [Microfilm: NL 1821]. (1956, August 18). The Straits Times, p. 7.

Today it will rain roses on Merdeka Bridge [Microfilm: NL 1821]. (1956, August 17). The Straits Times, p. 7.


Further readings
Colony of Singapore. (1956). Annual Report (pp. 5-6). Singapore: Government Printing Office.
(Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SIN)



The information in this article is valid as at 2001 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.


Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Architectural Styles
Historic bridges--Singapore
Transportation--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Architectural structure

Librarian Recommendations
>> Nicoll Highway
>> Lim Yew Hock
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