Merdeka Bridge was officially opened in 1956, straddling the mouths of the Rochor and Kallang Rivers, where Bugis traders from the Celebes used to unload their goods. Meaning 'freedom' in Malay, Merdeka Bridge symbolised the peoples' desire for independence. The pair of lion monuments, one on each end of the bridge, was moved when Merdeka Bridge was later widened and upgraded. The lion monuments now reside at SAFTI Military Institute in Tuas.
