North Bridge Road
North Bridge Road is a major one-way road in Singapore, located to the north of the Singapore River. It begins at the junction with Crawford Street in Kallang, situated on the western bank of the Rochor River, and runs in a southwesterly direction until it reaches Elgin Bridge. Beyond the bridge, the road continues as South Bridge Road on the southern side of the river. Along its course, North Bridge Road passes through the planning areas of Kallang, Rochor and the Downtown Core.
History
North Bridge Road is among the oldest roads in Singapore and was part of the original Jackson Plan, which laid out the framework for the colonial town in the early nineteenth century. It was constructed between 1833 and 1835 under the supervision of George Drumgoole Coleman, the first Government Superintendent of Public Works. The road was built using penal labour from Indian convicts who were brought to Singapore during the British colonial period. These convicts were commonly employed in public works projects, such as roads, bridges and buildings, contributing significantly to the colony's early infrastructure. North Bridge Road originally connected the European town centre to the outlying settlements, and its alignment formed a key axis within the early urban layout.Throughout the years, North Bridge Road has undergone several transformations. In the twentieth century, it became a major route for public transport, serving trams and trolley buses that operated across the city. The road was long maintained as a one-way street in the southbound direction, until changes to the traffic system were implemented. On 11 April 1993, Victoria Street was converted into a two-way road, prompting a reconfiguration of surrounding traffic flows, including that of North Bridge Road.