The road was named after John Turnbull Thomson, who was the Government Surveyor and Chief Engineer of the Straits Settlements from 1841 to 1853.

[1] Thomson Road was constructed to connect the city centre to the airport and naval base at Seletar.

It skims along the western edge of Bishan and Ang Mo Kio, which also passes through quite a few private residential estates, Thomson Plaza and The Singapore Island Country Club.

It is also the site of Saint Joseph Institution International, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, and many more.

The North–South Corridor and Expressway, which is currently under construction goes through major parts of Thomson Road.