Benjamin Sheares Bridge
{{Short description|Bridge in Singapore}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name = Benjamin Sheares Bridge
|native_name =
|image = Benjamin Sheares Bridge Oct 05.JPG
|image_size = 250
|alt =
|caption = Benjamin Sheares Bridge in October 2005
|official_name = Benjamin Sheares Bridge
|carries = Motor vehicles and pedestrians
|crosses = Marina Reservoir
|locale = Downtown Core and Kallang, Singapore
|maint =
|id =
|designer = Public Works Department (now CPG Corporation)
|design = Viaduct
|builder = Sato Kogyo and Chan Chee Wah Maunsell & Partners
|material =
|spans =
|pierswater =
|mainspan =
|length = 1.8 km
|width =
|height = 29m (tallest point at Kallang Basin)
|load =
|clearance =
|below =
|traffic =
|begin =
|complete =
|open = {{Start date and age|df=y|1981|9|26}}
}}
The Benjamin Sheares Bridge ({{zh|c=薛尔思桥|p=Xūeěrsī Qíao}}; {{langx|ms|Jambatan Benjamin Sheares}}; {{langx|ta|பென்ஜமின் ஷியர்ஸ் பாலம்}}) is the longest bridge in Singapore, spanning 1.8 km, and the tallest, at {{Convert|29|m|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.{{cite web |url=http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_32_2004-12-20.html |title=Benjamin Sheares Bridge |access-date=2009-07-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220154103/http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_32_2004-12-20.html |archive-date=20 February 2009 }} Article on Singapore Infopedia 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.{{Cite web|url=https://remembersingapore.org/2018/04/29/singapore-expressways-history/|title=The Beginning of Singapore's Expressways|last=Singapore|first=Remember|date=2018-04-29|website=Remember Singapore|language=en|access-date=2018-12-25}}
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[https://www.safra.sg/Participate/Singapore-Bay-Run.aspx#.U3nXrNKSySo] Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association (SAFRA) (formerly the Sheares Bridge Run).
It is also pictured on the rear panel of the Ship Series S$50 banknote.{{cite web |url=http://www.mas.gov.sg/currency/currency_info/notes/ship_series/Singapore_Circulation_Notes_Ship_Series__50.html |title=MAS: Ship Series - $50 |access-date=2007-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607095416/http://www.mas.gov.sg/currency/currency_info/notes/ship_series/Singapore_Circulation_Notes_Ship_Series__50.html |archive-date=7 June 2007 }} S$50 banknote
History
The East Coast Parkway (ECP) was first conceptualised in 1969 to reduce traffic at Golden Mile. The plans included the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, which was designed to be high-capacity bypass to the central area as well as to reduce congestion in Newton, Scotts, Paterson, and Outram roads during peak hour.{{Cite news |title=Parkway: Phase 4 work to begin soon |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19761027-1.2.63}}{{panorama|image = File:Benjamin Sheares Bridge and Singapore Flyer.JPG|caption = Benjamin Sheares Bridge and the Singapore Flyer (2007, under construction)|height=200px}}
See also
External Links
- [https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=eb309665-d8a4-4971-90b8-2b5e9b7eed38 Infopedia article]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|1|17|33.37 |N|103|51|43.43|E|type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Bridges completed in 1981
Category:Downtown Core (Singapore)