Benjamin Sheares Bridge

Benjamin Sheares Bridge
Benjamin Sheares Bridge in October 2005
Coordinates1°17′33″N 103°51′44″E / 1.2926°N 103.8621°E / 1.2926; 103.8621
CarriesMotor vehicles and pedestrians
CrossesMarina Reservoir
LocaleDowntown Core and Kallang, Singapore
Official nameBenjamin Sheares Bridge
Characteristics
DesignViaduct
Total length1.8 km [1]
Height29m (tallest point at Kallang Basin)[1]
History
DesignerPublic Works Department (now CPG Corporation)
Constructed bySato Kogyo and Chan Chee Wah Maunsell & Partners
Opened26 September 1981; 43 years ago (1981-09-26)
Location
Map

The Benjamin Sheares Bridge (Chinese: 薛尔思桥; pinyin: Xūeěrsī Qíao; Malay: Jambatan Benjamin Sheares; Tamil: பென்ஜமின் ஷியர்ஸ் பாலம்) is the longest bridge in Singapore, spanning 1.8 km, and the tallest, at 29 metres (95 ft). It is named after Benjamin Sheares, the second President of Singapore, who died four months before the bridge was opened to the public on 26 September 1981.[2] The bridge is part of the East Coast Parkway (ECP), at the western end of the expressway. The cost of construction was S$110 million.[3]

The bridge has one other exit (signed exit 15 on the ECP) for Rochor Road and Suntec City.

The Benjamin Sheares Bridge crosses over the Marina Reservoir, along the southern coast of mainland Singapore. It passes through the planning areas of Kallang, Marina East, Marina South and Downtown Core.

Built over reclaimed land by construction company Sato Kogyo, the bridge is made of pre-stressed concrete and links Tanjong Rhu on the east coast to Marina Bay on the west coast.

Benjamin Sheares Bridge is the setting for the annual SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon[4] (formerly the Sheares Bridge Run).

It is also pictured on the rear panel of the Ship Series S$50 banknote.[5]

Benjamin Sheares Bridge and the Singapore Flyer (2007, under construction)
  1. ^ a b "Benjamin Sheares Bridge | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  2. ^ "Benjamin Sheares Bridge". Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009. Article on Singapore Infopedia
  3. ^ Singapore, Remember (29 April 2018). "The Beginning of Singapore's Expressways". Remember Singapore. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  4. ^ [1] Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association (SAFRA)
  5. ^ "MAS: Ship Series - $50". Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007. S$50 banknote