Coleman Bridge

Did the Coleman Bridge always look so modern? Hardly. Before the sleek concrete structure we see today, there were three previous incarnations of the Coleman Bridge, each with its own story. The current Coleman Bridge, completed in 1990, is actually the fourth bridge to bear this name, spanning the Singapore River and linking Hill Street with New Bridge Road. It’s a vital artery in the city, but its history is even more fascinating than its function. The very first Coleman Bridge arose in 1840. It was a nine-arch brick masterpiece designed by George Drumgoole Coleman, Singapore’s first architect, and the namesake of the bridge itself. This bridge was sometimes called the “New Bridge,” which is how New Bridge Road got its name. Imagine horse-drawn carriages clattering across its brick surface, a stark contrast to the cars and buses that dominate today. Then, in 1865, the brick gave way to timber, a less sturdy structure that quickly proved inadequate. This second Coleman Bridge had a brief existence. Just a few years later, in 1886, a more elegant iron bridge took its place. This third Coleman Bridge, with its three lanes and graceful gas lamps, stood for almost a century, witnessing the transformation of Singapore from a colonial outpost to a bustling metropolis. The current Coleman Bridge, built in 1990, retains some of the decorative elements of its 1886 iron predecessor, a nod to its rich history. Ornate columns, lamp posts, and railings echo the Victorian era charm, while the twin bridges with four lanes each accommodate the demands of modern traffic. Look closely, and you can see the ghosts of bridges past in the details of the present. Beneath the bridge, two underpasses allow pedestrians to stroll along the riverbanks, uninterrupted by the flow of traffic above. As you walk along the Singapore River, remember the four Coleman Bridges that have graced this spot, each a testament to the city’s ever-evolving landscape.