Can you imagine a bridge that connects not just places but also eras? That is Sengkang South Bridge. Today we explore this bridge. It reflects Sengkang’s journey from a fishing village to a modern town.
Sengkang means “prosperous harbour” in Chinese. In Malay, it means “to chock, block or wedge”. The name came from Lorong Sengkang. This was a former Malay kampong road. It was off Lorong Buangkok. Lorongs were common before redevelopment.
The area was once known as Kangkar. This means “foot of the port”. A fishing port once stood along Sungei Serangoon. By the mid-20th century the area had rubber pepper and pineapple plantations.
Sengkang remained largely untouched until 1994. An urban design team from HDB planned a new town. They divided Sengkang into seven subzones. These would house 95000 public and private housing units.
Newspapers called Sengkang the “Town of the Seafarer”. This theme reflects its history as a fishing village. The four neighbourhood areas got sub-themes. These related to Sengkang’s marine history and plantations. The neighbourhoods were Rivervale Compassvale Anchorvale and Fernvale.
The first apartment blocks completed in 1997 were in Rivervale. By 2001 about 33700 dwelling units were ready. As of 2017 there were 65981 HDB units in Sengkang.
Sengkang is north of Hougang New Town. It is in the north-eastern part of Singapore. Sungei Punggol divides the town into Sengkang East and West. Sengkang Town Centre is in Compassvale.
Sengkang has a comprehensive Light Rail Transit system. It was the first LRT town. Sengkang and Buangkok MRT stations are on the North-East MRT Line. The Tampines and Central Expressways also provide access.
Sengkang has grown significantly. In 2000 its population was 61300. By 2024 it reached 265060. It reflects the success of Singapore’s urban planning. The town is designed to meet residents’ needs.
Standing on Sengkang South Bridge consider the blend of past and future. This bridge is a testament to Sengkang’s identity. It is a town that embraces its history while striding confidently forward.