Clementi landslide: Ulu Pandan park connector to fully reopen by December, nearby BTO project completed

SINGAPORE: The Ulu Pandan park connector that was affected by a landslide in Clementi will fully reopen to the public by December, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said on Saturday (May 27).

The landslide occurred on Sep 2 last year near the construction site of the Clementi NorthArc Build-to-Order (BTO) project.

HDB also announced on Saturday that the 1,179 flats at the BTO project have been completed after a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched in February 2017, the project was slated for completion by mid-2022 but was delayed by nine to 12 months due to COVID-19.

“HDB worked closely with the contractor to catch up on the delay, and managed to complete all six blocks between December 2022 and March 2023 despite the slope failure which occurred at the western edge of Clementi NorthArc on Sep 2, 2022,” said the Housing Board.

As of May 17, more than 90 per cent of flat buyers have collected their keys. Almost 98 per cent of the flats have been taken up.

LANDSLIDE REPAIRS

The landslide took place at an area where a retaining wall was being constructed to prepare for the building of a basketball court and pavilion.

Described as a “slope failure” by HDB, the incident resulted in “soil displacement” into Sungei Ulu Pandan and caused damage to the nearby Ulu Pandan park connector.

Checks carried out by authorities confirmed the residential blocks under construction then were structurally safe.

“HDB has been working closely with our contractor on the recovery and reconstruction works at the affected area of the BTO development, as well as the adjacent park connector,” said the Housing Board.

The affected segment of the canal has been restored to its original depth and capacity while the north bank of the park connector has been fully reopened to the public.

The final phase of the works includes reconstructing the slope within the BTO development and reinstating the damaged stretch of the park connector.

To strengthen the slope’s foundation, long piles are being embedded deep into the soil at intervals, and steel rebars are also being layered into the soil to further improve its stability, said HDB.

Slope strengthening works are about 50 per cent completed and are expected to be done by July.

Work to construct facilities in the areas as well as to reinstate the damaged stretch of the park connector will then start. This is expected to be completed by December.

BTO PROJECT COMPLETED AFTER DELAY

HDB said it worked with the contractor to prioritise the construction of the flats first, over other precinct areas in the Clementi NorthArc development.

Construction of some of the common areas is still ongoing, including a basketball court and pavilion.

Work on two commercial blocks is also in progress and estimated to be completed progressively from the third quarter of this year.

“When completed, residents will enjoy easy access to amenities such as an eating house, a supermarket, shops, as well as a childcare centre,” said HDB.

“A wide range of shops and amenities is also available at the adjacent Clementi Gateway BTO project as well as at Clementi Mall, which is about a 15-minute walk away.”

HDB said that barring any unforeseen circumstances, all projects delayed by the pandemic are expected to be completed in less than two years.

“With the recovery of the construction industry following the COVID-19 pandemic, HDB will continue to work closely with our construction partners and other government agencies to complete all projects affected by the pandemic-induced delays as soon as possible, without compromising quality and safety,” it added.