Peering across the Singapore River, did you know Pulau Saigon Bridge has a tale of transformation? Once connecting an island to the mainland, it now stands as a testament to Singapore’s ever-changing landscape. Let’s unravel its history.
The original Pulau Saigon Bridge was not at all what you see today. It was built in 1890. The bridge connected Pulau Saigon to Singapore. The island’s name possibly came from goods like rice that were stored here after arriving from Saigon now Ho Chi Minh City. However, there is no firm proof for this.
Interestingly, Kampong Saigon was acquired by the British authorities in 1871. They bought it from Hoo Ah Kay. He was better known as Mr. Whampoa. Whampoa was Mr. Hoo’s hometown in Guangzhou, China.
Pulau Saigon Bridge No. 1 met its end in 1986. It was demolished to make way for the Central Expressway or CTE. Before its demolition, in the 1970s, Pulau Saigon Road spanned the river. The vehicular bridges were simply known as Bridge No. 1 and Bridge No. 2. After the island was reclaimed, Bridge No. 1 became a footbridge. Bridge No. 2 was demolished.
The current Pulau Saigon Bridge isn’t the original. This bridge you see now, opened in 1997, links Saiboo Street with Havelock Road. It is a concrete bridge. It is a mere 43 meters long.
In the past, there was also a “Butcher Bridge”. This nickname arose because a butcher lived nearby the Pulau Saigon Bridge.
Before the reclamation in 1991, Pulau Saigon appeared on maps as early as 1939. It was then a mangrove marsh within the river. In 1991, the waters separating Pulau Saigon from Singapore were filled. So the island became part of the southern bank of the Singapore River.
So, while this Pulau Saigon Bridge might seem like just another bridge, it carries the echoes of an island. This island, Pulau Saigon, has been absorbed into the mainland. The bridge stands as a reminder of Singapore’s continuous evolution. From an island storing goods from Saigon to a memory reshaped by progress, the story of Pulau Saigon Bridge flows on.