The Ministry of Transport (MoT) of Singapore has announced plans to build new roads as well as renovate and repurposed existing ones in Sin Ming and Tiong Bahru to support public transport, walking and cycling. The purpose is to encourage commuters to adopt greener modes of transportation, with the goal of having 90 per cent of peak-period trips completed by walking, cycling, or ride modes by 2040.
By 2030, the agency wants to add 60 km to the country’s Transit Priority Corridors (TPCs), which include roadways with bus lanes, wider walkways, and dedicated bicycle pathways.
A new TPC along Sin Ming Avenue, linking to the North-South Corridor at Marymount Road and the Bright Hill MRT station, will commence construction in the second half of 2022. A dedicated bus lane, improved bike pathways, and bigger walkways will all be part of the 2 km road. Work is expected to be completed in 2029 and make commuting easier to the Bright Hill MRT station, an interchange between the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and the Cross Island Line (CRL).
Starting end March 2022, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will also launch a six-month trial to renovate multiple roads in Tiong Bahru including the Seng Poh Road, Eng Hoon Street and Lim Liak Street. The improved roadways are expected to increase pedestrian safety in the area, notably near the famed Tiong Bahru Market.
LTA will collect input from the community during the six-month trial. If the proposed improvements are well-received, they will become permanent. Meanwhile, the agency will also continue to study other feasible areas to conduct the road repurposing to encourage public transport and active mobility.
Finally, LTA also plans to expand Singapore’s bicycle network to 1,300 km by 2030. Currently, the nationwide network is 500 km long. By 2025, around 3,000 additional bicycle parking spaces will be available at MRT stations.
