Cavenagh Bridge

Cavenagh Bridge (加文纳桥)
Location : Singapore River
Lenth : 79.25 metres
Width : 9.45 metres
Construction : 1868 - 1869
Designed : John Turnbull Thomson
Contractor : P&W Maclellan and Glasgow Engineers
Official opened date : 1870



Cavenagh Bridge is the oldest bridge in Singapore.
It is also the only suspension bridge.
It was originally planned to be named as Edinburgh Bridge to commemorate the first visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Singapore.
But lastly, through the members of the Singapore Legislative Council, they decided to named it in honour of Major General William Orfeur Cavenagh - Governor of the Straits Settlements. The last appointed governor of Straits.
Cavenagh Bridge used to carries horses, rickshaws, ox carts in the past.
Now it is used as a pedestrian bridge.
The construction cost is of Straits $80,000 in 1869.
The Bridge was manufactured in Scotland.
Materials were been shipped to Singapore in knockdown form and assembled by convict labour.
Before the bridge was built, people could only cross the two districts by a detour over Elgin Bridge or by paying 1 duit (1/4 cent) for a boat ride.
In the late 1880s, Cavenagh Bridge was overcrowded and the Government hence built the Anderson Bridge.
Please click here for more informations about : Anderson Bridge

In 1987, a 5 month restoration works were done by the Public Works Department(PWD).
It cost 1.2 million and the bridge was reopended on 3 July 1987.



A 1910 police notice post which still stands at Cavenagh Bridge.
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.
















Looking across from Cavenagh Bridge, in view is the Anderson Bridge.


Kids bronze sculpture leaping into water.


Cats sculpture - The Singapore River Cats
The Kucinta Cats (Love cats/ Singapura Cats) are one of the world's smallest breeds.




Picture of Cavenagh Bridge in the 1890.


Description of photo below :
Built in 1869 to link the Civic District on the North Bank with the Commercial District on the South Bank, this is the oldest bridge along the Singapore River in its original design.
It is also the first steel suspension bridge in Singapore. Before its construction, assces between the two districts was only possible by a detour over Elgin Bridge or by paying one cent for a boat ride.

Name after Colonel (later Major General) Orfeur Cavenagh, the Governor of the Straits Settlements (1859-1867), the bridge was designed by the Public Works Department.
It was manufactured by P&W MacLellan in Scotland and the parts were shipped here and assembled by the Indian convict labour.
According to the original design, the bridge was to be raised during high tide to facilitate the assage of barges.
However, this proved to be technically impossible and it became a fixed suspension bridge.

By the late 1800s, the bridge could not withstand the browing volume of vehicular traffic and Anderson Bridge was opened in 1910 to ease the flow.
Cavenagh Bridge thus became a pedestrian bridge. A police notice put up to regulate the use of the bridge, banning heavy vehicular traffic exceeding 3 cwt (hundred weight) or 152 kilogrammes, still stands today at either end of the bridge.


Cavenagh Bridge with Fullerton Hotel in the background

Anderson Bridge

Anderson Bridge 安德逊桥
Location : Singapore River
Lenth : 70 metres
Width : 28 metres
Construction : 1908 - 1910
Contractor : Howarth Ershine Ltd (Superstructure), Westminster Construcion Co., Ltd(Bridge)
Official opened date : 12 March 1910




Anderson Bridge was built in 1910, named after Sir John Anderson (Governor of Straits Settlements) to help ceased the heavy traffic in Cavenagh Bridge.
After completion of bridge, vehicles, horse carts / ox carts were diverted from Cavenagh Bridge to Anderson Bridge.
Cavenagh Bridge was then converted to be used as a pedestrian bridge.

Scary Facts of Anderson Bridge :
Criminals heads were cut off and hung on Anderson Bridge during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore in 1942-1945.
It serves as a warning to citizens to discourage them from breaking the laws.




View of Anderson Bridge from Queen Elizabeth Walk.