 Roads leading to Sentosa and Harbourfront to be upgraded
SINGAPORE: Roads leading to Sentosa and the area around Harbourfront will be upgraded this year.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said this is to prepare for an expected increase in traffic when the integrated resort at Sentosa – Resorts World at Sentosa – is completed in 2010.
When fully upgraded in two years' time, the roads can accommodate 30 percent more traffic.
According to LTA, during peak period, the junction of Sentosa Gateway sees about 6,000 passenger car unit (pcu) per hour. So this is expected to increase to between 8,000 and 9,000 pcu per hour in future.
LTA said the roads affected include the stretch of Telok Blangah Road and Kampong Bahru Road where a single lane will be added in both directions.
Extra lanes will also be added for parts of Sentosa Gateway. For example, the road leading to Sentosa will have two lanes to facilitate vehicles turning left from Telok Blangah Road.
To further ease traffic flow, an existing central up-ramp which links Telok Blangah Road to the city-bound West Coast Highway, will be converted to a down-ramp.
A new up-ramp will be built to link Telok Blangah Road to the city-bound West Coast Highway viaduct.
Once the ramps are completed, it is expected to divert about 20 percent of traffic from this area, saving motorists at least 10 minutes of travelling time.
Paul Fok, Group Director of Land Transport Authority, said: "If we don't do anything to the traffic in the area, you'll probably need to wait at the junction for the lights to turn from red to green three times or even more before you can cross the junctions. With the improvements, we'd expect you to clear the junctions with one or two cycles."
LTA said tender for improvement works will be called soon and the project is expected to start in June.
The authority is also trying out a Parking Guidance System which is an electronic system that advises motorists which parking lots are available, even before they approach the Harbourfront-Sentosa area.
LTA added that this is to further ease traffic congestion caused by drivers who clog up the areas when they cannot find a parking spot.
Signs will be put up at strategic roads to give motorists ample time to decide where to park before they reach the area. | 
