Bridges on Southern Ridges now open

Reference to the post "Name the Bridges across our Southern Ridges" last December, all has been named & two of the pedestrian bridges were officially open by PM Lee Hsien Loong during a community walk on 10 May.

Discovering the Southern Ridges

The Southern Ridges comprise a 9-kilometre chain of green, open spaces spanning the rolling hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park before ending at West Coast Park.

It is an area steeped in history and is home to some of nature’s greatest gifts of flora and fauna. It is also one of the best spots in Singapore to catch panoramic views of the city, harbour and the Southern Islands.

Two prominent connections stand proudly along the Ridges today. The Henderson Waves – Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge - spans Henderson Road to connect Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park. The other link, Alexandra Arch, looks like an opened leaf across Alexandra Road. It continues to Forest Walk, which is made up of an elevated walkway for pedestrians and earth trail for cyclists through the secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill Park.

Together with a series of other interesting trails, they provide a seamless link through a soothing sanctuary of greenery that was previously not accessible.

The Southern Ridges Prologue
Marang Trail - 0.8km - 15 mins walk
This trail extends from Marang Road, just behind the Harbourfront MRT Station to the cable car station at the Jewel Box on Mount Faber. An easy walk of steps and shaded footpaths through secondary forest, Marang Trail covers an elevation of 70 metres (or the equivalent of a 24-storey building).

Getting to Marang Trail:
By MRT : Alight at Harbourfront station Exit D
By Bus : Take bus service number 10, 30, 57, 61, 65, 80, 93, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, 161, 300, 646 or 855 alight at bus stop in front of Seah Im Food Center at Telok Blangah Road
By Car : Carpark is available at Seah Im Food Center

Faber Walk - 1.0km - 15 mins walk
Faber Walk meanders through Mount Faber Park, one of the oldest parks in Singapore, and ends at the Henderson Waves. The slopes of this 56-hectare park are covered by dense secondary rain forest, and are home to many interesting plants and fauna.
At its peak the park offers panoramic views of the southern part of Singapore and the Southern Islands. At night, the park transforms into one of the more romantic spots on the island, where people can enjoy a breathtaking sight of the city’s twinkling lights and ships at sea.

Henderson Waves - 0.3km - 5 mins walk
At 36 metres above Henderson Road, Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. It was built to connect the two hills of Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill.
The bridge has a unique wave-form made up of seven undulating curved steel “ribs” that alternately rise over and under its deck. The curved “ribs” form alcoves that function as shelters with seats within.
Slats of yellow balau wood, an all-weather timber found in South-East Asia, are used in the decking. Look out for carvings on the slats marking the height you are at on various points along the bridge.
The wave-forms will be lit with attractive LED light from 7pm to 2am daily, giving the bridge an illuminative glow.

Getting to Henderson Waves:
By Bus : Take bus service number 131, 145, 176 or 648 alight at bus stop along Henderson Road, take the staircase up to Mount Faber Park.
By Car : Parking is available at Mount Faber Carpark D (17 lots) and Telok Blangah Hill Park Carpark 1 (17 lots) & Carpark 2 (total 39 lots)

Hilltop Walk - 1.0km - 15 mins walk
Hilltop Walk runs through the 34-hectare Telok Blangah Hill Park, once a gathering place for trading communities that flourished in the area in the early nineteenth century. The trail connects on one end with the Henderson Waves and the other with the Forest Walk leading to Alexandra Arch. The Terrace Garden at the top of the park offer a stunning 360-degree view of Singapore.

Forest Walk - 1.3km - 20 mins walk
The Forest Walk, a steps-free elevated walkway with earth trails meanders through some 50 metres through the secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill and connects to Alexandra Arch. The raised walkway with heights ranging from 3 to 18 metres brushes the canopy of trees and offers a bird’s eye view of the forest. The modules of the elevated walkway derived their design from the triangular-shaped leaves of the fast-growing “Mile-a-Minute” plant. The ground level earth trails offer a more rugged experience, bringing you closer to the wildlife found in the area.

Getting to Forest Walk:
By Bus : Take bus service number 51, 61, 93, 97, 100, 166 or 963 and alight at bus stop along Alexandra Road (junction of Hyderabab Road)
By Car : Parking is available at HortPark-the gardening hub (155 lots) or Telok Blangah Hill Park Carpark 2 (39 lots) & Carpark 3 (8 lots)

Alexandra Arch - 0.08km - 5 mins walk
The bridge, with its curved deck and tilted arch, spans across Alexandra Road like an opened leaf. On the Hyderabad Road side, the bridge is connected to HortPark - the gardening hub, via the Floral Walk. Near the bridge is Gillman Village, a former British military camp in the early 20th century, is now home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, pubs and art galleries.
At night, the bridge will dazzle with colour-changing LED lights. The lights display will be on between 7pm and 12am daily.

Floral Walk - 0.3km - 5 mins walk
HortPark - 1.1km - 15 mins walk
Located at the base of the bridge at Alexandra Arch, Floral Walk offers a delightful stroll along a path lined with flowering plants.
It forms the gateway to HortPark – the gardening hub. This is Southeast Asia’s first one-stop centre for gardening-related recreational, educational, research and retail activities in a park setting. Some park highlights include attractive themed gardens as well as outdoor display plots showcasing designs and ideas for home gardening.
The 23-hectare HortPark connects to Kent Ridge Park via the Canopy Walk.

Canopy Walk - 0.3km - 5 mins walk
Canopy Walk links the 47-hectare Kent Ridge Park to Reflections at Bukit Chandu - once known as Opium Hill and site of one of the last battles of Singapore in World War II and HortPark – the gardening hub.
Elevated 16 metres at the centre, Canopy Walk takes you through secondary forest with groves of Tembusu and dominant trees of the adinandra belukar. Move quietly and you may just see some of the rich wildlife that lives there, such as squirrels, sunbirds, doves, lizards and white-crested laughing thrushes.

Getting to Canopy Walk:
By Bus : Alight at Alexandra Road (junction of Hyderabab Road), a 25mins walk via HortPark-the gardening hub
By Car : Parking is available at Kent Ridge Park Carpark B (Vigilante Drive, 47 lots); Carpark C (25 lots) at Pepys Road