Marina Barrage
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Marina Barrage
| image = Marina Barrage Logo.png
| image_caption = 300px
| name_official = Marina Barrage
| dam_crosses = Marina Channel
| res_name = Marina Reservoir
| location = 8 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018951
| dam_length = 350m
| dam_height =
| dam_width_base =
| construction_began =
| opening = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2008|10|31}}
| status = O
| res_capacity_total =
| res_catchment = 10,000 ha
| coordinates = {{coord|1|16|46.124|N|103|52|16.26|E|type:landmark_region:SG|display=inline,title}}
| extra =
}}
Marina Barrage is a dam in southern Singapore built at the confluence of five rivers, across the Marina Channel between Marina East and Marina South.{{Citation|last=Khoo|first=Teng Chye|chapter=Singapore Water: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow|date=2009|pages=237–250|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-540-89346-2_12|isbn=9783540893455|title=Water Management in 2020 and Beyond|series=Water Resources Development and Management}}
First conceptualised in 1987 by then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew to help achieve greater self-sufficiency for the country's water needs, the barrage began construction on 22 March 2005,{{cite web |title=Marina Barrage Commencement Ceremony |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/speeches/view-html?filename=2005032202.htm |publisher=NAS |access-date=17 August 2019 |date=22 March 2005 |archive-date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719212441/http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/speeches/view-html?filename=2005032202.htm |url-status=dead }} and was officially opened on 31 October 2008 as Singapore's fifteenth reservoir, the Marina Reservoir.{{cite web |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/speeches/view-html?filename=20081111003.htm |title=Speech by Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister, at launch of Clean And Green Singapore 2009 and Opening of Marina Barrage |publisher=NAS |access-date=30 August 2019 |date=31 October 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
It provides water storage, flood control and recreation. It won a Superior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/speeches/record-details/80229569-115d-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad|title=MARINA BARRAGE BAGS TOP HONOURS AT INTERNATIONAL …|website=www.nas.gov.sg|access-date=2018-08-06}} It also turned the previously salt water Marina Bay into fresh water for the first time in its history.
Purpose
The S$3 billion project, with $226 million for the structure itself, turned Marina Bay and Kallang Basin into a new downtown freshwater Marina Reservoir. It provides water supply, flood control and a new lifestyle attraction. After its opening, the Marina Barrage quickly became a tourist attraction not long after.{{cite web |title=Marina Barrage |url=https://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/architecture/modern/marina-barrage/ |website=www.visitsingapore.com |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en}}
By keeping out seawater, the barrage formed Singapore's 15th reservoir and first reservoir in the city. Marina Reservoir, together with the future Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs, increased Singapore's water catchment areas by one-sixth of Singapore's total land area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pub.gov.sg/|title=PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency|last=PUB|website=PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29}}
Marina Barrage also acts as a tidal barrier to keep seawater out, helping to alleviate flooding in high-risk low-lying areas of the downtown districts such as Chinatown, Jalan Besar and Geylang.{{Cite journal | last1 = Moh | first1 = W. H. | last2 = Su | first2 = P. L. | doi = 10.2749/101686609787398399 | title = Marina Barrage – A Unique 3-in-1 Project in Singapore | journal = Structural Engineering International | volume = 19 | pages = 17–21 | year = 2009 | s2cid = 109899648 }}
When it rains heavily during low-tide, the barrage's crest gates will be lowered to release excess water from the coastal reservoir into the sea. If heavy rain falls during high-tide, the crest gates remain closed and giant drainage pumps are activated to pump excess water out to sea.
As the water in the Marina Basin is unaffected by the tides, the water level will be kept constant, making it ideal for all kinds of recreational activities such as boating, windsurfing, kayaking and dragonboating.
Impact
The building of the Marina Barrage required the relocation of Clifford Pier from Collyer Quay to Marina South (see Marina South Pier).
It has proved to be a tourist attraction. Marina Barrage is open for viewing 24/7. The information counter is open from 9.00am to 9.00pm daily. Tours for a maximum capacity of 80 people to the Visitor Centre can be arranged prior to arrival.
From 2012 onward, it played host to annual public youth community and cosplay event EOY Cosplay Festival.
Awards
The Marina Barrage was conferred the Superior Achievement Award – the highest honour of the competition for the best project entry - at the AAEE Annual Awards Luncheon held in Washington, DC, USA on 6 May 2009. The Marina Barrage beat 33 other entries to take home the top prize in this year's competition organised by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE), becoming the second project outside of USA to win the award, in the last decade.
Gallery
Image:Marina Barrage Panorama.jpg|Kite-flying is a popular pastime on the barrage
Image:View from Marina Barrage.jpg|Singapore downtown skyline as seen from the Marina Barrage
Image:Wiki marina barrage.jpg|The Marina Bridge
Image:Marina_Barrage_Bridge.jpg|The bridge holds the press gates that control water flow
Image:Marina_Barrage_Depth_Mark.jpg|Depth markings present on the observation piers
Image:Marina_Barrage_Pump_House.jpg|The Pump House in the background contains the seven massive water pumps
Image:Marina_Barrage_Solar_Park.jpg|The Solar Park which provides additional electrical power for the site
Image:Marina_Barrage_Solar_Panels.jpg|The solar panels in the Solar Park
Image:Green_Roof.jpg|The Green Roof
Image:Main Bldg.jpg|The Pump House
Image:Marina_Barrage_east_end.jpg|Marina Barrage viewed from its east end.
Image:Marina Barrage Fountains at Night.jpg|Fountains at the Marina Barrage during night time.
File:Marina Barrage 300522.jpg|Marina Barrage 300522
File:Marina Barrage Open Field 300522.jpg|Marina Barrage Open Field 300522
File:Singapore CBD Sunset.jpg|Singapore CBD Sunset from Marina Barrage
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Marina Barrage}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160405144129/http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/Pages/default.aspx Official Page]
- [http://www.singaporevr.com/vrs/MarinaBarrage/MarinaBarrage02.html Interactive Virtual Reality Tour of Marina Barrage]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071012/http://www.pub.gov.sg/mpublications/Pages/PressReleases.aspx?ItemId=188 Paragraph 2]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081106162734/http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/operation/Pages/default.aspx Diagram 2, Drainage Pump]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160405144129/http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/Pages/default.aspx Sub-heading:Flood Control, Para 3]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090827144046/http://www.aaee.net/Website/E3SA.htm AAEE website ]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090524070107/http://www.aaee.net/ AAEE ]
- [http://www.acnnewswire.com/Article.Asp?Art_ID=1453&lang=EN ACN Newswire ]
{{Major Tourist Attractions in Singapore}}
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Category:Marina Bay, Singapore