Centennial Connection
The Malaysia-Singapore Causeway at 100
Causeway, Oct 3, 1953.
PHOTO: BRITISH ROYAL AIR FORCE
1910s–1926
Building bridges: Causeway construction
1910s
Ferries once transported passengers and goods across the Johor Strait, but growing demand called for an alternative. While a bridge was proposed, a stone causeway was ultimately preferred
Aug 1919
Construction began, helmed by a
London engineering firm
Apr 24, 1920
A ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation stone
Sep 17, 1923
While the Causeway was only partially complete, a rail link for goods opened
for operations
Oct 1, 1923
The passenger railway opened for public use with the first train departing Kuala Lumpur on the night of Sep 30 and arriving in Singapore the next day at 7.41 am. A toll was introduced: First-class passengers paid 40 cents, second-class 30 cents and third-class 20 cents
Jun 11, 1924
Speedy finish: Causeway construction officially completed three months ahead
of schedule
Jun 28, 1924
Grand opening in Johor Bahru. The Causeway, which cost 17 million Straits dollars, was hailed as a Far East engineering marvel. It featured a 3,465-feet long and 60-feet wide granite bank that included dual railway tracks and a 26-feet road
1926
Pipelines along the Causeway were completed and water was piped to Singapore’s Pearl Hill Reservoir from the Gunung Pulai waterworks
Causeway in 1930. Photo: Roland craske/ NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SINGAPORE
1941–1950
Burning bridges: World War II havoc
Dec 8, 1941
Japanese troops landed in southern Thailand and northern Malaya. The first bombs were dropped on Singapore
Jan 31, 1942
British forces bombed the Causeway to delay the Japanese’s advance into Singapore. The water pipelines were damaged too
Feb 1942
The Japanese repaired the Causeway, then sent in more reinforcements, equipment
and supplies
Aug 15, 1945
The Japanese announced their surrender
Sep 12, 1945
The instrument of surrender was signed. The British began their post-war reconstruction
1950
New water pipes were laid to meet Singapore’s rising demand for water
View of the Causeway from Woodlands in 1924. Photo: TESSA MITCHELL/ NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SINGAPORE
Wax models depict the British surrendering Singapore to the Japanese on Feb 15, 1942. Photo: SINCHEW
Japanese forces surrender to the British. Photo: BT FILE