Denoting 'freedom' in Malay, Merdeka Bridge symbolised the people’s desire for independence. The bridge was officially opened in 1956 and it straddles the mouths of the Rochor and Kallang Rivers. The pair of lion monuments, one on each end of the bridge, was moved when Merdeka Bridge was later widened and upgraded. The monuments of the lions now reside at SAFTI Military Institute in Tuas.
