Tan Kin Lian's Blog: North South Expressway

Thursday, January 20, 2011

North South Expressway

The Government has announced the plan to build the North South Expressway. It will cost $7 to $8 billion and will be ready by 2020.

I believe that an elevated expressway will be less costly and take a shorter time to build .Many cities have adopted the elevated rather than the underground approach. Are we spending too much money, when there is a cheaper option?

12 years ago, I wrote to the Minister of Transport to propose a second level for the Central Expressway. He replied that it would be difficult to build the access roads to the elevated expressway. I may not be a road engineer, but I believe that it can be done. It would be easier, quicker, less costly and more practical to have a second level CTE.

Unfortunately, this type of decisions are taken by the policy makers and the planners, without much discussion with the people who have to pay for it (through our taxes and cost of living) and to use it daily.

Tan Kin Lian

16 comments:

StocksKeeper said...: looking at the map provided, the tunnels are mainly at populated areas like ang mo kio estate and thomson area.

tunnel is good as it keep the noise level down although it is more expensive. the noise level created by moving vehicles is very high, just stand at corridors of those flats built beside expressways. so i think this may be one of the factor, hopefully it is and not due to others less practical reasons.; January 20, 2011 10:48 AM
Unknown said...: hi, having underground road has the benefits after all as eJim mentioned. The govt should also looked into how to make use of space above road such as build recreation or sport facilities ground above certain road. Or even creates gardens or greenaries above.; January 20, 2011 11:35 AM
Unknown said...: expanding the expressway to cope with traffc congestion, whether above ground or underground, is to me not the ideal solution. I feel improving the mass transport system is more viable and efficient way forward. I read that the accident in the early part of this week was 21 km long !.

Not forgetting what our MM said that we can traverse one end to the other in double quick time. (Of course when you have outriders clearing the way); January 20, 2011 11:51 AM
ThisIsIt said...: thks 4 putting this up! i have been telling tht (2nd level) to so many taxi drivers...
how about 1st level for non-paying ERP charges and 2nd level for paying ERP charges?; January 20, 2011 12:13 PM
Unknown said...: if second level i think can be done in 4 years; January 20, 2011 12:58 PM
C H Yak said...: A 2nd level can say starts from Braddell exit or AMK Ave 1 till Outram exit. There is always a bottleneck and terrible jam at Braddell exit.; January 20, 2011 1:30 PM
yujuan said...: Hope that the residents of the acquired terrace houses opposite Shun Fu would be compensated at market prices. Justice must be seen, as LTA is disrupting people's lives, especially old folks who thought they could retire there. Now their peaceful lives are shattered.; January 20, 2011 2:32 PM
Ray said...: Tunnel can free up space on the road level for other developments.

During tunnel construction, noise and road diversion can be minimal depending on the method of construction.

S'pore being a land scarce city state will be beneficial though the short term cost will be higher to build a tunnel but the long term benefits will be more.

There is always a reason why tunnel is being selected over elevated expressway, one of the reasons could be consideration for effective land use.; January 20, 2011 3:13 PM
Jamesneo said...: This expressway is a total waste of money to extend the status quo of our car culture. With the coming oil crisis, what we need is instead more mrt lines and faster transition of our buses to electric buses. Unfortunately, singaporeans will not willingly give up their car culture until either the price of gasoline rises so high or gasoline supply become constrained.; January 20, 2011 3:19 PM
Tan Choon Hong said...: I like the idea of a second level over the CTE because much of the main structure can be cast off-site and assembled onto the footings that are cast along the route.

It is conceivable that we can start at one, or both ends of the route, building above ground and growing forward, touching ground only to link to the support columns. Wide spans linking the towers of a bridge have been achieved this way, but our needs are more modest.

The completed portion will serve as the supply line to haul equipment and material forward. An elevated twin-track MRT line can also be built at the same time.

With shorter building time, road diversions need not be paved as we can use military steel road panels and keep moving them forward. Less build, tear up and make good.

Also to be a true expressway, the second level should link only major townships and have just one access/exit point per centre.; January 20, 2011 6:08 PM
Tan Choon Hong said...: Mr Tan

Re the Ministry's reply of difficulty in building the access links for a second level, there are four- or five-level junctions all over Shanghai, not to mention the many elevated roads. We should ask the Chinese foreign talent to help out.; January 20, 2011 6:31 PM
C H Yak said...: @ "Re the Ministry's reply of difficulty in building the access links for a second level."

The difficulty lies with Money not technical reasons. Should more public funds be spent to make life easier for car owners...and can COE hit 6 digits+ & road tax increased further without public noise.

In China, the money is spent by the Central Govt whether it is 4, 5tiers or 4, 5 rings ... some cities no need even to pay for a "licence" plate or roads tax.; January 21, 2011 9:16 AM
ron said...: Deny the tax on cars
Deny the tax on roads
Deny the ERP charges
Deny the tax on fuel
Deny the insurance
Deny the radio licence
Deny the parking charges
Deny the finance companies fees
Deny the workshops
Deny the car wash
Deny the parking fines
Deny the speeding fines

use public transport.; January 21, 2011 1:04 PM
yujuan said...: Last but not least, got cheated by fare overcharges, or got squeezed like sardines on trains and buses,
or be at the mercy of increase in fares as and when they like it.
Who has the time or patience to claim for refunds.; January 21, 2011 3:48 PM
Choon Ghee said...: A second level over CTE is an obvious solution. Look at big cities like Tokyo and Shanghai. There is no need to have many exits like the ones CTE currently have with Ang Mo Kio. More exits, more jams. Having another overhead path from above will direct distant traffic straight into town, and fee up road space for the lower level CTE.; February 04, 2011 9:55 AM
Tarraleah said...: Thus far LTA has not explained why this is needed and what alternatives were considered eg banning heavy vehicles along Lornie rd during peak hours. Taking away someone's home is no trivial matter. $6billion is a lot of money to spend. And u can expect more traffic jams during the construction until 2020!; February 07, 2011 10:50 AM