Evolution
of the Road
Networks
What’s in a Road Name?
Early road builders pushed through Singapore's jungle
interiors and swampy marshlands, slowly connecting
Singapore, road by road. Through the years, the road
infrastructure evolved with the introduction of new modes of
transport, with dirt tracks gradually paving the way for tarmac
roads.
Singapore's road network gradually became more complex as
the booming population began to settle further beyond the
outskirts of the city. With more roads sprouting throughout
the island, have you ever wondered how our road names
came about?
What’s in a Road Name?
High Street
Probably the oldest street in Singapore, it was laid down by
Lieutenant Henry Ralfe of the East India Company soon after
the founding of Singapore in 1819. High Street was aptly
named as it is located on high ground and thus not prone to
flooding. Up till today, High Street is synonymous with
important government buildings such as the Parliament
House, the Treasury Building and the Supreme Court.
What’s in a Road Name?
Orchard Road
Orchard Road began as a country land lined with nutmeg,
pepper and fruit orchards in the 1800s. As the city centre
grew inland from the Padang, the plantations of the Orchard
area gave way to residential development. Private houses and
bungalows then slowly began to dominate the nearby Scotts
Road and Tanglin Road.
What’s in a Road Name?
Eu Tong Sen Street
The street was named after Penang-born millionaire tin miner,
rubber estate and property owner, Eu Tong Sen. One of the
wealthiest Chinese in Malaya, he contributed vastly to
community and was the Chinese representative in the Federal
Council between 1911-1920. He also received the Officer of
the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or O.B.E, for
his meritorious services in 1922.
What’s in a Road Name?
Dhoby Ghaut
Dhoby Ghaut or Dhobi Ghat, literally means 'washing place' in
Hindi. The street was so named in reference to the laundries
that were found around the area. Indian dhobies or
laundrymen would wash their laundry in the stream, which
used to be known as Sungei Bras Basah. They would then dry
their laundry in the open space between Bras Basah Road and
Stamford Road.
What’s in a Road Name?
Kandang Kerbau
The area took its name from Buffalo Village in 1835, where
the public works authorities had their cattle sheds in the area.
Kerbau refers to 'buffalo' while kandang means 'a fenced
enclosure' in Malay. To the Chinese, Kandang Kerbau is also
referred to as tek kha meaning 'foot of the bamboos' which
grew plentiful in the area.
Building Bridges
Just as flyovers and expressways provide vital passageways to
keep the traffic moving today, bridges were the lifeblood of
commerce in the pioneering years of the 19th century, where
business and trade used to bustle along the Singapore River.
Building Bridges
Cavenagh Bridge
The Colonial Crossing
The Cavenagh Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge across the
Singapore River today. Built to link the bustling Commercial
Square (now Raffles Place) with the colonial government
offices across the road, the bridge was reserved for
pedestrians only a historic sign still stands today at the
Empress Place entrance proclaiming these rules.
Cavenagh Bridge was built to commemorate the founding of
the Crown Colony of the Straits Settlements in 1867.
Building Bridges
Merdeka Bridge
The Colonial Crossing
The Merdeka Bridge on Nicoll Highway, was built in 1956,
linking the east coast to the city centre. It was named
Merdeka which means 'independence' in Malay, to mark
Singapore's freedom and autonomy when it was given internal
self-government in 1955.
Building Bridges
Elgin Bridge
The North-South Connection
Elgin Bridge was one of the first bridges to be built across the
Singapore River to provide a vital link as the north-south
connection between the European merchant community on
the north bank and the Chinese in Chinatown.
Restored in 1987, the high arched bridge now stands
resplendent with its cast iron lamps, marking the historic
junction of South Bridge Road and North Bridge Road.