About Fort Road district covers Tanjong Rhu and Meyer Road along with its namesake, and is linked to Tanjong Rhu flyover, Meyer Road as well as East Coast Parkway.
History Fort Road was believed to be built as an entrance to Katong Fort. Katong Fort was demolished and Katong Park constructed in its place in the 1930s. One of Singapore 's oldest parks, it originally faced the sea. When reclamation work in the East Coast took place in the 1960s, most of the sea frontage of Katong Park was lost. Three bombs exploded in the park in 1963 during Singapore 's independence struggle, and it was consequentially designated as a historical site in 1998.
Tanjong Rhu Road was named after the Casuarina trees, also known as pokok rhu in Malay, that grew along the coast of Kallang. The entire Tanjong Rhu was designated to be a marine yard by Raffles in 1822. The area from Sandy Point at the tip of the spit to Deep Water Point, where Tanjong Katong currently is, was to be developed as a shipbuilding yard.
Meyer Road was named either after Sir Reuben Manasseh Meyer, the Jewish businessman who built the Chesed-El Synagogue, or after Arnold Otto Meyer, founder of Behn Meyer & Co.
Places of Interest The Preservation of Monuments Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority declared Katong Park as a historical site of National Monument status because of its heavy heritage value from Singapore's pre-independence days.The park is open to the public (though the area has been cordoned off). You can also visit Tanjong Katong Park for your routine walkabouts or perhaps a game of soccer.
Residential Although few large mansions reflect the laid-back sea-side life along Fort Road, the street is rapidly lined with high-rise condominiums, such as Fortville, Fort Gardens, Fort Redale and The Waterside. Tanjong Rhu, similarly, presents itself as an exclusive private residential area boasting the island's most prestigious waterfront condominiums including Water Place, Sanctuary Green, Parkshore and Pebble Bay.
Transportation The nearest Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train station to Fort Road is Kallang MRT station (EW10). However, once the Circle Line is completed in 2010, Tanjong Rhu will be accessible by the Boulevard MRT station and Old Airport Road MRT station.