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SINGAPORE: It runs through the heart of Singapore but has long been the source of headaches for many a motorist. Arguably the most congested of the expressways here, the Central Expressway (CTE) is now headed for the most extensive improvements since it opened 17 years ago.
By the end of 2011, the CTE will be an uninterrupted dual four-lane expressway, cutting travel time from Yio Chu Kang to the city, and vice-versa, by 15 per cent, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA). With up to 9,000 vehicles using the current dual three-lane CTE each hour during the peak periods now, traffic capacity will increase by at least 2,000 vehicles at some stretches.
From February, work will start on widening four stretches of the expressway, with a pair of flyovers to be constructed to separate traffic heading for other places.
Going up between Braddell Road and the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), the two-lane flyovers will serve as service roads for traffic connecting between the PIE and the CTE.
The north-bound flyover will serve traffic from the PIE and connect to the CTE, allowing motorists to exit at Braddell or enter the CTE, and bypass a congested stretch.
For traffic heading from the north, a south-bound flyover will connect CTE traffic to the PIE and Upper Serangoon Road, without contributing to congestion along the stretch between the PIE and Braddell Road. Now, up to 30 per cent traffic use the CTE to exit to the PIE during the peak hours.
Besides road widening works at the four stretches, widening works have started between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and 3.
Four tenders will be called for the improvements. The LTA declined to comment on the expected cost. But a tender for the widening between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and 3 was awarded for S$16.9 million.
While motorists hoped that these improvements will result in smooth flowing traffic during peak hours, some questioned why they took so long to be implemented.
Bishan resident Daniel Chen, who uses the CTE to get home from work in Paya Lebar, said congestion at the Braddell exit sometimes tailbacks to the PIE flyover entrance to CTE.
“It is good that they have finally decided to do something about it,” said the accounts executive. “The problem has been around for some time but not much has been done.”
LTA chief executive Yam Ah Mee said there is a need to increase traffic capacity to meet an expected increase in traffic demand, even as new roads such as the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway are introduced.
Over the next decade or so, the number of homes in the northern and north-eastern areas of Singapore is expected to increase by 50 per cent to nearly 500,000.
The LTA had considered a number of options as traffic grew on the CTE, said director of engineering Paul Fok. Building another tier on top of the CTE - similar to multi-tier expressways in the United States - would use more land, due to the number of interchanges needed, he added.
In the improvements to the CTE, land to be acquired will be kept to a minimum, said the LTA, with most belonging to the State. The LTA also said that traffic disruption would be kept to a minimum: Construction work will be kept to off-peak hours and there will be no reduction in the number of lanes.
For some Potong Pasir residents though, the improvements will bring the expressway closer to their flats - from 15m now to 12m in 2011.
The LTA will plant thick foliage along the stretch to reduce noise and dust. - TODAY/sh
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