Coleman Bridge, Singapore
Copyright © Timothy Tye.
Coleman Bridge
Coleman Bridge is a vehicular bridge across the Singapore River. It links Hill Street and New Bridge Road. Coleman Bridge was the second bridge built across the Singapore River and the first built in masonry. The bridge across the river dates back to 1840.
Coleman Bridge has had nine arches. It was designed by and named after George Drumgoole Coleman, one of the most famous architects in Singapore who was involved in the design of many of the heritage buildings in the city today. During its time, it was called New Bridge, and gave that name to the road leading to it from the south, New Bridge Road. It is known as Yi Ma Lo Khiu or "the bridge at the second road" in Cantonese.
In 1865, the original brick bridge was replaced by one made of timber which was unfortunately not well constructed. Within two decades, that wooden bridge had to be replaced, and an iron one was built in its place in 1886. The iron bridge stood for about a hundred years, but eventually, it too had to be replace when it could no longer cope with the amount of traffic moving across it.
The iron bridge was finally demolished in 1986 and replaced with the present concrete bridge. Some of its features such as the decorative lamp posts and iron railings were incorporated into the current structure, in recognition of its historical significance.
