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SINGAPORE: You can now take a 9-kilometre walk from Mount Faber to Telok Blangah Hill and Kent Ridge Park. The three hills are collectively known as the Southern Ridges and they are linked by two new pedestrian bridges and a walkway, which were opened on Saturday by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
PM Lee said the Southern Ridges is part of the country's effort to transform itself into a city of gardens and water.
As Singapore's economy and population continues to grow, Mr Lee assured that the government will strive to provide the highest quality of life possible for all residents.
PM Lee said: "I think quite a lot of Singaporeans worry that our quality of life will suffer, that there won't be enough space for all of us. And they ask, “Is our little island getting too crowded, will we lose our sense of comfort of space and greenery?” My answer is we will continue to provide a first class living environment for all Singaporeans. We have done quite well in this respect and we will build on this to do better."
That means making water ways and greenery more accessible to the public.
Mr Lee continued: "We will build a park connector from the Alexandra Arch, along Alexandra Road to Labrador Park. We will link up to a mangrove boardwalk at Berlayer Creek, with its rich biodiversity. And eventually connect to a waterfront broad walk from Bukit Chermin all the way to Vivocity."
Cheong Koon Hean, CEO, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), said: "You are literally walking on the boardwalk with the sea on your right and you can see Sentosa and it will go all the way in front of Labrador Park and also Reflections and then you reach VivoCity. With that, the entire southern ridges will be fully connected. It will be a totally different experience."
The URA first announced its plans to link the Southern Ridges to the parks as part of its Identity Plan in 2002.
And it was widely supported, garnering a 93 per cent endorsement from Singaporeans in a survey.
An online public poll was conducted earlier this year to decide on the names of the two bridges. And Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch were selected from among 11 options.
Mr Lee later toured the US$13 million horticultural park or HortPark off Alexandra Road.
The 23-hectare park is Southeast Asia's first one-stop gardening and lifestyle hub. It plans to attract one million visitors a year. -CNA/vm
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