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SINGAPORE : The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is constructing two new flyovers and widening parts of Upper Bukit Timah Road and Woodlands Road to improve the overall traffic flow.
Upper Bukit Timah Road and Woodlands Road is a key arterial road, serving the Kranji and Mandai industrial estates as well as the Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang residential estates.
Currently, it experiences high traffic volumes, especially at key junctions and intersections during peak hours.
LTA said when the road widening and improvement works are completed in 2015, there will be three continuous lanes in both directions.
Motorists travelling along this road can expect shorter journey times by using the new flyovers.
The road widening and improvement works are expected to commence in the second half of next year.
To minimise the period of disruption to the residents and motorists, LTA said it will dovetail the road works with the ongoing construction of stations and tunnels in Phase 2 of the Downtown Line (DTL2).
This is so that the reinstatement of the road carriageway affected by the DTL2 construction will also incorporate the road improvement works.
LTA said by taking this construction approach, the overall construction time will be shortened.
To facilitate the road improvement works and construction of the new flyovers, the government will need to acquire private lands along the roads under the Land Acquisition Act.
The acquisition will involve a row of shop houses along Woodlands Road and part lots along Upper Bukit Timah Road.
The Singapore Land Authority has gazetted the lands affected by the acquisition.
When Channel NewsAsia visited the affected tenants, most were not aware of the Land Acquisition notices pasted outside their shops.
But since construction is scheduled to start in the second half of next year, they have some time to figure out their next move.
"Of course it's a bit sad. Because we've already been here a few years already... We'll find another new location, it's a bit tough for us," said Michael Lim, manager of EG Supplies.
"We have to look for a next location to shift. We'll start informing our clients and our base, (that) we're going to shift," said Desmond Kng, owner of DK Pets 'N' Grooming Salon.
Meanwhile, motorists had mixed views about the move to improve traffic flow.
"During the construction work, there's going to be a lot of inconvenience caused, but ... in the long term, it will benefit all drivers," said one motorist.
Others said the traffic congestion will persist despite the widening of roads, as there are simply too many vehicles these days. - CNA /ls
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