Singapore Plans Landmark Bridge for Marina Bay Connectivity
Singapore’s skyline is set for another striking addition as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) prepares to launch the Marina Centre-Bay East Bridge project.
This pedestrian and cyclist link across the Marina Channel is scheduled to begin construction in Q1 2026 and be completed by 2029.
Beyond being a practical route, the bridge will become an architectural landmark that symbolises Singapore’s vision of seamless connectivity.
Transforming Access to the Founders’ Memorial
At the heart of the project lies a simple but powerful goal: connecting people. The bridge will link Marina Centre directly to Gardens by the Bay’s Bay East Garden, making the upcoming Founders’ Memorial and its dedicated MRT station more accessible. Due to open in 2028, the Memorial is set to become one of Singapore’s most significant cultural destinations. The bridge ensures visitors, whether on foot or bicycle, can approach it effortlessly.
URA officials emphasise the role this crossing will play in large-scale events. It will act as a natural conduit for marathons, cycling events, and even the Singapore Grand Prix, easing movement across the city’s bustling waterfront. By knitting together cultural, recreational, and transport hubs, the bridge elevates the liveability and vibrancy of the Marina Bay precinct.
Design Excellence Meets Functionality
Architecturally, the bridge promises to be as functional as it is visually captivating. Designed as a lightweight, floating structure running parallel to the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, it will create a distinct profile against the city’s waterfront skyline. URA’s vision is not only for a crossing but a statement piece that integrates gracefully with its surroundings.
The bridge will accommodate multiple users:
- Pedestrians and cyclists
- People-mover systems such as buggies for ease of access
- Support for large crowd movements during city-wide events
This multipurpose design ensures it caters to everyday commuters as well as the spectacle of major occasions.
Coordination Across Agencies
Delivering a project of this scale demands careful collaboration. The URA has outlined the involvement of numerous stakeholders, including Sport Singapore, PUB, the National Parks Board, the Defence Science and Technology Agency, and the Singapore Tourism Board. Each brings unique expertise, from landscape design to tourism integration, ensuring the bridge blends infrastructure with environmental sensitivity.
The tender for the project, open until August 2025, calls for specialised expertise. Contractors must demonstrate capabilities in lighting design, landscaping, and arborist services. These requirements highlight the city’s commitment to creating not just an engineering structure but a civic space that respects its ecological context.
Construction with Minimal Disruption
One of the more complex challenges will be ensuring marine traffic remains uninterrupted. The Marina Channel is a busy waterway, and construction teams will need to adopt precise methods to safeguard shipping and boating operations. Meanwhile, the public will still have access to waterfront connectors through alternative routes, keeping the city’s recreational flow intact.
This dual focus, on continuity of everyday life and long-term transformation, demonstrates the pragmatism behind Singapore’s urban planning philosophy. Projects are designed to upgrade the future without disrupting the present.
Context Within Singapore’s Urban Strategy
The bridge aligns closely with the URA’s Draft Master Plan 2025, which places connectivity, inclusivity, and sustainability at the core of urban development. Alongside transport expansions like Circle Line Stage 6, which will reach Marina Bay in 2026, and the Founders’ Memorial MRT station, the crossing ensures that the Marina Bay precinct evolves as a fully integrated urban space.
By 2029, Marina Bay will not only host iconic events but also serve as an everyday hub where people move seamlessly between heritage, culture, green spaces, and waterfront activities. This is the essence of Singapore’s development ethos: creating cityscapes that are as people-focused as they are future-ready.
A Bridge to the Future
When completed, the Marina Centre-Bay East Bridge will be far more than a physical connector. It will embody Singapore’s approach to city-making, where infrastructure, design, and human experience intersect.
A bridge that floats lightly on the Marina Channel while carrying the weight of national vision, it will be a structure that tells the story of a city always moving forward.
