The Cavenagh Bridge

Cavenagh Bridge is the only suspension bridge and one of the oldest bridges in Singapore that exist in its original form.  Spanning the lower reaches of the Singapore River in the Downtown Core. Opened in 1870  to commemorate Singapore's new Crown colony of the Straits Settlements status.

Bridge linked the Civic District on the northern bank to the Commercial District on the southern bank of the Singapore River. This bridge has elaborate suspension struts in comparison with most other suspension bridges, and is the third bridge to be built.

Numerous steel rivets were used in its construction, which employed steel casting methods commonly used during that era. 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.  It was originally designed as a drawbridge but on its completion was found to be suitable only as a fixed structure.

Cavenagh Bridge in its glorious days then.

The main purpose for the construction of Cavenagh Bridge.

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 heavier vehicles, horse and ox carts being diverted to Anderson Bridge. A police notice, which is still preserved till 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.

Cavenagh Bridge is currently a pedestrian bridge, with lighting added in the 1990s to accentuate its architectural features at nightfall. 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 which is sited beside the bridge.