Pang Sua Bridge

A curious thing happened near Pang Sua Canal. For a year, teenager Ricardo Tan, living a mere 600m from his school, endured a 35-minute commute. The Pang Sua Canal stood between him and his education. This meant a 1km detour and two bus rides, often snarled in Woodlands and Chua Chu Kang Road traffic. Pang Sua Bridge changed everything. Since January, thanks to a newly built footpath and the restored Pang Sua Bridge, Ricardo’s journey is a brisk 15 minutes. Pang Sua Bridge officially opened on May 4, 2024, with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Liang Eng Hwa present. Getting Pang Sua Bridge built was no easy feat. MP Liang described the coordination between multiple agencies as a “big nightmare.” The old bridge had deteriorated. A plot of land lacked a footpath. This made access to amenities across the canal, like schools, polyclinics, and coffee shops, difficult. The project involved the Singapore Land Authority, the Public Utilities Board, the Land Transport Authority, NParks, and even, for a time, the Urban Redevelopment Authority due to the Rail Corridor’s proximity. The Municipal Services Office finally stepped in to orchestrate the efforts. The government invested around $500,000 to improve the bridge, footpath, and lighting. MP Liang estimates that the improved connectivity benefits about 3,500 families in his ward alone. He had been receiving complaints since 2015. The completion of Pang Sua Bridge marked a significant victory for the community.