Truss Bridge

Gazing upon this steel giant, the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge, you’re standing on a piece of history. This isn’t just a bridge; it’s a survivor, a testament to Singapore’s railway past. Officially reopened in March 2021, the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge isn’t new. It has been here since 1932. It’s one of the two original bridges that carried trains rumbling from Tanjong Pagar to the Causeway at Woodlands. Imagine those steam engines chugging across, a steel horse galloping on iron hooves. This bridge witnessed it all, until the railway’s closure in 2011. The Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge holds a unique distinction. It’s the only Pratt truss bridge in Singapore. Notice the vertical supports and diagonals sloping towards the center. This design sets it apart from its cousin, the Bukit Timah Truss Bridge at Bukit Timah/Dunearn Road, a Baltimore truss bridge. Both bridges were designed by United Engineers, the same company behind UE Square at River Valley Road. They share a common heritage, visible in their granite stone piers, dressed with ornamental profiles. The restoration of the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge was a meticulous undertaking. Each of the 172 sleepers, a mix of wood and concrete, was carefully labeled, removed, and then returned to its exact position. New fencing was added, ensuring the safety of pedestrians and cyclists who now cross the bridge. The bridge connects the Rail Corridor North and the Rail Corridor Central. As you cross, imagine the ghosts of trains past, the echoes of their whistles, the rhythmic clatter of wheels on steel. The Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge stands as a reminder of a bygone era, repurposed and renewed for the future.