The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has released the Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040 report. This report encapsulates LTA’s long term plans to build a convenient, well-connected, inclusive and fast land transport system that will meet the needs and aspirations of Singaporeans over the next two decades and beyond. 

The LTMP 2040 report contains detailed responses to recommendations made by the LTMP Advisory Panel (LAP) in February 2019 and accepted by the Government in March 2019. These recommendations were the product of extensive public consultations led by the LAP and facilitated by LTA officers. Over 7,400 responses were received from commuters, transport workers, academia, industry partners, unions, students and interest groups over six months. Their ideas helped to shape the Panel’s nine recommendations, which were grouped under three key themes – A 45-minute City with 20-Minute Towns; Transport for All and Healthy Lives, Safer Journeys.  

To realise the goal of a 45-minute city with 20-minute towns, LTA will continue investing in public transport to make journeys more seamless and convenient. By 2040, new regional hubs outside the city will also bring jobs closer to homes, thereby shortening the average time taken to travel to work. We will also continue to expand the active mobility network to facilitate first-and-last mile journeys.  Overall, commuters should have more time to live, work and play. 

The LTMP 2040 report unveiled several key public transport enhancements. These include the expansion of the rail network, including several new stations and rail lines which will be developed over the next two decades. 

Two new MRT stations will be opened on the North South Line (NSL) by the mid-2030s. Brickland Station will be added to the NSL. Located between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak stations, it will give residents in areas such as Keat Hong, Bukit Batok West, Pavillion Park and the Brickland district in Tengah town easier access to the rail network.

Click here to read more details about this masterplan project.  

Website: www.lta.gov.sg

Canberra Station is a new MRT stop on the North-South Line. The North-South Line is Singapore’s first MRT line – parts of it were open in 1987 – but a new Canberra Station will be added to it in 2019. 

As the elevated station is being “tagged” onto an existing line, construction will be challenging as the planners have to be mindful of working hours and work spaces. 

When the new station opens in 2019, residents in the vicinity will have a direct connection to the MRT network, without the need to take a bus. Commuters travelling towards the city centre or Jurong East will save up to 10 minutes of travelling time.

To better facilitate commuter movement and enhance accessibility, Canberra station is designed with five entrances, with one connected to the new housing estates across Canberra Link. An elevated link bridge to be built across Canberra Link will enable commuters to directly access the city-bound train platform. The new station will also have covered linkways to bus stops, pick-up and drop-off points as well as bicycle parks.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the first three civil contracts for Circle Line 6 (CCL6) totalling S$1.75 billion. Works on these three contracts are expected to commence by the end of 2017 and complete by 2025.

The 4-kilometre CCL6 will have three stations, and will close the loop for the Circle Line (CCL) by connecting HarbourFront Station to Marina Bay Station. When the CCL6 stations of Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward are completed in 2025, the CCL will have a total of 33 stations, including 12 interchange stations with other MRT lines. It will also expand the rail network to areas such as Spottiswoode and the southern edge of our existing CBD.  

With CCL6, commuters will enjoy a direct route between areas in the west like Pasir Panjang and Kent Ridge and key employment areas in the Central Business District, as well as upcoming developments in the Marina Bay area. Commuters travelling from areas like Paya Lebar and Mountbatten will also enjoy faster access to the retail and office centres in the HarbourFront area.

As an orbital line, CCL enhances overall connectivity and capacity, and strengthens the resilience of the MRT network by connecting the existing radial lines and creating multiple routes between stations. For example, a commuter travelling from Jurong East to Marina Bay will have the alternate option of transferring to the Circle Line at Buona Vista Station.

To cater to future needs, Kim Chuan Depot will be expanded to almost double its capacity from 70 to 133 trains. The integrated depot will also house 550 buses, which will allow us to optimise land use. The expansion of the depot will be completed at about the same time as CCL6 in 2025.

Website: www.LTA.gov.sg

Braddell Flyover officially opened on 11 June 2017. 

With the new flyover, motorists can get direct access from Lorong 6 Toa Payoh to Upper Serangoon Road and Bartley Road, without having to join the traffic on Braddell Road.

Motorist can also look forward to enhanced road capacity, with the roads along Braddell Road between Toa Payoh North Flyover and CTE being widened from a dual three-lanes to dual five-lanes.

Do take note of some changes to the existing routes:

Closure of Road Access:

- From the rightmost lane along Braddell Road to Upper Serangoon Road/Bartley Road

- From Bishan Street 11 to Braddell Underpass (Upper Serangoon Road/Bartley Road)  

New bus-only lanes:

- Next to Toa Payoh North Flyover

- At Lorong 8 Toa Payoh.

Read more on the New Flyover

www.LTA.gov.sg

4 MRT stations on Tuas West Extension will open on 18 June 2017, cutting down some commuters' journeys by up to 35 minutes.

The four above-ground stations which are beyond the current Joo Koon station are Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link. They are part of the new 7.5km Tuas West Extension, which is expected to serve 100,000 commuters daily, in particular the many workers in the Jurong and Tuas industrial estates, who will see their journeys shortened.

For as an example; a journey from Ang Mo Kio to Tuas West can be cut by about 35 minutes from about 100 minutes currently, to 65 minutes with the new extension

The Tuas West Extension project also includes the construction of the Tuas viaduct, which opened on Feb 18, and a 26ha integrated depot.

There will be a preview of the extension at an open house on 16 June. All four stations will be opened to the public from noon to 8pm.

Website: www.LTA.gov.sg

Tel: 1800 – 2255 582

The Sentosa Gateway Tunnel will open on Thursday, 27 April 2017 at 10am. It is a one-way tunnel that connects outbound traffic from Sentosa Island directly to Keppel Road and Lower Delta Road.

The Tunnel will help to alleviate the current congestion experienced at the busy at-grade junctions at Sentosa Gateway, Telok Blangah Road, Kampong Bahru Road and Lower Delta Road.

As the SGT is in close proximity to the North East Line MRT tunnels and the West Coast Highway viaduct foundations, it was constructed with a limited headroom of 3.5m. In view of the height constraints, only cars and motorcycles will be permitted to use the tunnel.

Buses, heavy and light goods vehicles such as pickups, vans and lorries etc. can continue using the at-grade roads towards Telok Blangah Road to reach their destinations.

www.LTA.gov.sg

Motorists can now use the newly opened two-lane Nicoll Underpass at the junction of Nicoll Highway and Sims Way to enjoy direct connection from KPE and Sims Way to Nicoll Highway or Stadium Drive.

The new underpass will help to smoothen traffic flow at the KPE exit and Sims Way when connecting to Nicoll Highway.

Do take note of some changes to existing routes:

• The existing access along Nicoll Highway (city bound) to Stadium Drive will be closed.
• The right turn from Sims Way to Nicoll Highway at the traffic junction will be removed.

Land Transport Authority (LTA) has put together short videos to help you navigate around the new roads better. Click on the titles below to watch them on their YouTube Channel:

1. Video 1 - Travel Route from KPE to Stadium Drive and Nicoll Highway

2. Video 2 - Travel Route from Sims Way to Stadium Drive and Nicoll Highway

3. Video 3 - Travel Route from Guillemard Road to Stadium Drive

4. Video 4 - Travel Route from Mountbatten Road/Old Airport Road to Stadium

www.LTA.gov.sg