Shenton Way | |
|---|---|
Road | |
 | |
_20211118_133300.jpg) Skyscrapers above Shenton Way (top) and Shenton Way MRT station (bottom) | |
 Location in Singapore | |
| Coordinates:1°16′40″N103°51′02″E / 1.2778°N 103.8505°E /1.2778; 103.8505 | |
| Country |  Singapore |
| Planning Area | Central Area |
| Boundaries | Boon Tat Street, Raffles Quay, Commerce Street and Keppel Road |
Shenton Way is a major trunkroad servingSingapore'sCentral Area and is most commonly known for the commercialskyscrapers flanking both sides of the road. The road is a one-way street that starts at the junction ofBoon Tat Street, Raffles Quay and Commerce Street before ending at Keppel Road.
In January 1948, the British colonial government announced a development scheme in the Telok Ayer reclamation area, consisting of the development of 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of state land and the extension of Raffles Quay from Boon Tat Street to Prince Edward Road.[1] The construction of the Raffles Quay extension was also recommended to the government in a special committee's report in September 1948,[2] to improve connectivity between the central area andthe harbour and to allow for the development of reclaimed land between Tanjong Pagar and Finalyson Green.[3] Work on the extension's first phase between Raffles Quay and Prince Edward Road had commenced by December 1950, while construction of the second phase linking Prince Edward Road to Singapore Harbour was expected to commence in 1951.[4]
The first section of the road was opened to traffic in August 1951 by the then-Governor of Singapore Franklin Gibson. Consisting of two 27 feet (8.2 m) carriageways, the road was named "Shenton Way" afterShenton Thomas, to show appreciation for his service to Singapore during his tenure as Governor.[3] Plans for the second phase of construction, connecting the initial section with the harbour, were submitted for approval in July 1951,[5] and it was completed in 1952.[6]
In February 1952, the colonial government initiated a development scheme in the area, offering 17 plots of land along Shenton Way and Robinson Road for sale on 99-year leases. These plots were leased out on the condition that ten-storey buildings with a uniform exterior design and finish, and conforming to government regulations on their construction and use, were built on them within a four-year window.[7]
The plots were auctioned off to developers in March 1952 at over $3,900,000, in what theStraits Times described as a "record auction".[8] Nevertheless, problems soon arose with the scheme, as several developers were unable to have their building plans approved since the minimum building cost of $1,000,000 set by the lease conditions exceeded the $50,000 limit under the Control of Building Ordinance.[9] Development resumed after the government announced the loosening of most restrictions set by the ordinance,[10] but hit another snag when developers were unable to find solid rock for foundations.[11] A diamond-headed drill from Britain and a specialist from Australia was brought in by a developer to assist in the process,[12] finding solid rock and underground water under the site.[13] The depth of the rock, along with the underground water, necessitated the use of more expensive precast piles, driving up building cost.[14]
By September 1953, only two developers had started construction, while several others were contemplating abandoning development, owing to the onset of a recession, and high construction costs.[15] Subsequently, in June 1954, the government took back 11 of the auctioned plots from the developers, as the developers had not commenced construction within the stipulated two-year period.[16]
New development plans for the area were announced by the government in January 1956, comprising the construction of theSingapore Polytechnic and of government offices.[17] Work on the polytechnic commenced on in August 1956,[18] and it started classes in November 1958,[19] but the government office project was cancelled by the government in April 1958, due to a trade recession.[20] In addition, the Trade Union House, theNational Trades Union Congress's headquarters, was built along Shenton Way from 1962 to 1965.[21]
By 1963, much of the land in Singapore's central business district, between Raffles Place, High Street, and North Bridge Road, had been developed, and according toThe Straits Times, property developers had asked the Singapore government about development of the Shenton Way area. In response, in October 1963, the government announced plans to allow private interests to develop a site along Shenton Way, beside theTrade Union House, for "administrative uses".[22] The site, subdivided into four plots, was let out on 99-year leases in 1964.[23]
Since the 1950s, Shenton Way has become known as Singapore'sWall Street, especially after commercial developments and government offices were built there from the 1970s onwards and continues to be a prime commercial address on par with that ofRaffles Place today.
TheShenton Way Bus Terminal is located at 31 Shenton Way.
The road is directly served by its namesakeShenton Way station on theThomson–East Coast line (TEL), located on Park Street next to theAsia Square building. Other stations within the vicinity includeDowntown station on theDowntown line (DTL) and the upcomingPrince Edward Road station on theCircle line (CCL), located at the end of the road towards Keppel.
