[News] Woodsville Interchange
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Woodsville Interchange to be upgraded with road tunnels, flyover
17 May 2006 1625 hrs (SST) 0825 hrs (GMT)
SINGAPORE : It is one of Singapore's most congested interchanges linking four major roads.
Woodsville Interchange is reaching its full capacity usage and is already starting to cause massive traffic jams.
So the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has stepped in with a multi-million project to build three new tunnels and a flyover to manage the growing traffic.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2011.
It has become a common sight - trapped in bumper to bumper traffic near the Woodsville Interchange.
Traffic studies by the LTA have shown that it is not unusual to wait for 2 to 3 traffic light cycles to clear the junctions at Serangoon, Upper Serangoon, MacPherson and Bendemeer Roads.
That means about 7 minutes stuck in traffic, plus 3 more minutes if you take the U-turn at Whampoa North.
Based on computer simulations, the proposed upgrade will cut travelling time by half, taking into account the projected traffic growth going through the area.
With the three new tunnels, traffic on Serangoon to Upper Serangoon, Bendemeer to Upper Serangoon and MacPherson to Bendemeer Roads will also be uninterrupted, while a new flyover will link the PIE slip road to Kallang Way.
Currently during peak hours, traffic flows at Woodsville Interchange is up to 8,400 vehicles per hour.
LTA says if nothing is done, it will be gridlock in a few years time. But with the upgrade, the new interchange will have increased capacity of 11,000 vehicles per hour during the peak periods.
A single tunnel and flyover project completed elsewhere in Singapore already costs $20 million to $30 million dollars, and a project of this size could cost several times more.
LTA says it will likely be the most expensive project of its kind, and one of the most complex road structure projects to date.
"To compound the situation, we have the NE Line MRT tunnel which runs along the Serangoon Upper, Serangoon corridor, as well as deep sewage tunnels which run parallel to the PIE. So that means when we come up with a system that requires us to build tunnels and flyovers at that junction, we have to make sure that we don't affect any of the infrastructures in place," said Paul Fok, director and chief engineer (civil) at LTA.
Surrounding buildings like Jackson Centre will be affected by the road widening and some portions of the former Serangoon Fire Station will have to be torn down.
Before construction starts in late 2007, a six month study will be done to evaluate the best construction method.
- CNA /ls -
Yeah...my place is always very congested....
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Ya great. Now they can just call Upp serangoon as another expressway then.. uninterrupted all the way..
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Haiz...
After so many years then finally a solution comes
But there goes the Kopitiam
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nb...Originally posted by sbst275:Haiz...
After so many years then finally a solution comes
But there goes the Kopitiam
there goes my ngoh hiong and dim sum...
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Originally posted by GHoST_18:nb...
there goes my ngoh hiong and dim sum... And that chap huey tiam selling cheap beer
But really, Macpherson Rd needs some widening but not Upp Serangoon Rd!
The root of all prob is that Whompoa North
Remove that Whompoa North road, what's gonna happen to Sv 966? -
I rather scrape off the ERP @ CTE or reduce the price so that Jln Toa Payoh wont be having jams and jams and jams while CTE gets a fair share of it
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966 might not be turning into Whampoa North, according to the map on Zaobao today, there's a new on directional road that cuts thru the current junction of MacPherson Rd and Upp Serangoon Rd horizontally, and joining the entrance to PIE(Jurong). Sounds a bit confusing.Originally posted by sbst275: And that chap huey tiam selling cheap beer
But really, Macpherson Rd needs some widening but not Upp Serangoon Rd!
The root of all prob is that Whompoa North
Remove that Whompoa North road, what's gonna happen to Sv 966? -
After looking at the map, there's no need for a tunnel from Macpherson Rd to Bendemeer Rd... But rather to Whompoa North straight would be betterOriginally posted by PJ_Quek:966 might not be turning into Whampoa North, according to the map on Zaobao today, there's a new on directional road that cuts thru the current junction of MacPherson Rd and Upp Serangoon Rd horizontally, and joining the entrance to PIE(Jurong). Sounds a bit confusing.
If they remove the Whompoa North, cars from PIE (Jurong) can't make a u tuen to Upp Serangoon Rd unless they move down to the next u turn that's at near St George Rd, which I believe what's gonna happen to Sv 966 -
i think the on-grade junction will handle that....Originally posted by sbst275:If they remove the Whompoa North, cars from PIE (Jurong) can't make a u tuen to Upp Serangoon Rd unless they move down to the next u turn that's at near St George Rd, which I believe what's gonna happen to Sv 966 -
What will happen to MacPherson Rd bus routes headed for PIE (TUas). Not forgetting 142 on the return trip to TPY.
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For that, I'm really not so sure, but I think the bus routes along MacPherson Rd may be diverted or sth like that.Originally posted by iveco:What will happen to MacPherson Rd bus routes headed for PIE (TUas). Not forgetting 142 on the return trip to TPY.
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Now looking at TODAY's graphics
A new junction will be made to let cars from Upp Serangoon Rd/ Macpherson Rd to get to PIE (Jurong). Likely location is those area with drains
That Bee Chieng Hiang bus stop like this would be left with Sv 26, 31, 985 -
and 966Originally posted by sbst275:Now looking at TODAY's graphics
A new junction will be made to let cars from Upp Serangoon Rd/ Macpherson Rd to get to PIE (Jurong). Likely location is those area with drains
That Bee Chieng Hiang bus stop like this would be left with Sv 26, 31, 985 -
NoOriginally posted by SBS9889U:and 966
Sv 966 will proceed straight from PIE
A big junction will be made to allow cars to directly turn to and from PIE
Hence Whompoa North will be closed
The tunnels
To and fro Upp Serangoon Rd to CBD, is 2 lane
From Macpherson - Bendemeer is 1 lane
The Bendemeer exit is likely to be near Whompoa North
But to improve the traffic there, that Bee Chieng Hiang bus stop should be removed -
Almost forgotten, Sv 857Originally posted by SBS9889U:and 966
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966 can use "go straight" into the PIE(Jurong) entrance, notice on the map they "joined" the exit and the entrance of PIE(Jurong) together.Originally posted by sbst275:After looking at the map, there's no need for a tunnel from Macpherson Rd to Bendemeer Rd... But rather to Whompoa North straight would be better
If they remove the Whompoa North, cars from PIE (Jurong) can't make a u tuen to Upp Serangoon Rd unless they move down to the next u turn that's at near St George Rd, which I believe what's gonna happen to Sv 966
Vehicles from the East, which is PIE (Jurong) direction, should be able turn into Upp Serangoon Rd, using the junction created for cars to turn into PIE (Jurong) from Upp Serangoon Rd. Same goes to cars from the East, turning into MacPherson Rd, a sharp bend though. Otherwise vehicles must go all the way to St George Rd, which is not economical.
Pardon if it has confused you.
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I believe this article will answer some of your questions.
Upgrading Of Woodsville Interchange
The Land Transport Authority will be upgrading the Woodsville Interchange by constructing three new vehicular tunnels and a flyover.
The scope of upgrading works includes:- - Construction of a 255 metres long two-lane vehicular tunnel from Serangoon Road to Upper Serangoon Road;
- Construction of a 245 metres long two-lane vehicular tunnel from Upper Serangoon Road to Bendemeer Road;
- Construction of a 160 metres long one-lane vehicular tunnel from MacPherson Road to Bendemeer Road;
- Construction of a 400 metres long one-lane flyover from the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) slip road to Kallang Way; and
- Reconfiguring the existing at-grade road junction to improve the overall traffic flow
It is necessary to upgrade Woodsville Interchange because the current peak hours traffic volumes at the interchange are very high and are close to its capacity. Long traffic queues have also been observed at the at-grade road junction during peak hours.
Construction is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2007 and is targeted for completion in 2011. When construction is completed, the connectivity between the Northeast part of Singapore and the city will improve. Motorists will be able to use the new vehicular tunnels and flyover to travel seamlessly from Upper Serangoon Road to Bendemeer Road, MacPherson Road to Bendemeer Road, Serangoon Road to Upper Serangoon Road, and from PIE to Kallang Way. Traffic flow at the at-grade road junction will in turn be improved, as a considerable volume of vehicles will use the new vehicular tunnels and flyover to bypass the traffic junction.
Upon completion of the upgrading works, motorists from Upper Serangoon Road and MacPherson Road will also be able to make right turns at the new reconfigured at-grade road junction to go onto PIE (in the direction of Jurong). Whampoa North, which is the current route to PIE (in the direction of Jurong) from Upper Serangoon Road and MacPherson Road, will be removed and the land will be returned to the State.
A consultant, Parsons Brinckerhoff Pte Ltd, has been engaged by LTA through an Advance Consultancy tender to carry out detailed engineering studies on the feasible construction methods for the upgrading of the Woodsville Interchange. The consultant will propose a most suitable construction method that is safe and best minimises inconvenience to motorists, residents and business owners.
About the Woodsville Interchange
The Woodsville Interchange is located at the intersection of Serangoon Road, Upper Serangoon Road, MacPherson Road and Bendemeer Road with connecting slip roads to and from PIE.
Woodsville Interchange was built in 1982 to provide a dual two-lane flyover between Jalan Kolam Ayer and Jalan Toa Payoh (both roads are now known as PIE). In order to manage the increased traffic demand over the years, Woodsville Interchange was upgraded in 1994. The upgrading involved the conversion of the dual two-lane flyover into a four-lane flyover to cater to the east-bound traffic and the construction of another four-lane flyover to cater to the west-bound traffic. A flyover to cater to the traffic heading towards Central Expressway (CTE) was also included in the upgrading. -
NPNT ~
someone go fish out the map when u're free... -
That flyover to Kallang Way may end up creating more jam at Macpherson Rd
Serangoon Rd - Jln Kolam Ayer - PIE - Kallang Way is alt instead of using Serangoon Rd - Macpherson Rd - Genting Lane which is already heavily jammed