Kallang–Paya Lebar Expressway
The Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (Abbreviation: KPE; Chinese: 加冷－巴耶利峇高速公路; Pinyin: Jiālěng Bāyēlìbā Gāosù Gōnglù) malay: Lebuhraya Kallang-Paya Lebar is the newest of Singapore's network of expressways.
Connecting the East Coast Parkway and the Tampines Expressway in the north-east, the 6 lane expressway will extend twelve kilometres, with approximately 8.5km of main cut and cover underground tunnels[1] running some 10 metres underground. Built at a cost of approximately S$1.8 billion (US$1 billion), it will be the longest subterranean road tunnel in Southeast Asia. The KPE is also believed to be the world's sixth longest underground road project under construction.[2] In all, the dual-carriageway expressway with three lanes in each direction will have eight interchanges, eleven on-ramps, and twelve off-ramps.
Construction
Construction on the expressway started in the year 2001, and is expected to be fully completed in 2008. On 23 June 2007, the northern end of the expressway between Tampines Road from the new Defu Flyover and the Tampines Expressway was opened to traffic, and named temporarily as Tampines Service Road.[3] Tampines Road will therefore no longer connect with the Tampines Expressway at the Tampines Flyover. The Defu Flyover along Tampines Road, along with the traffic signals, were commissioned on the same day from 1000 hours.[4]
A 3 km southern section will open in the second half of 2007.[2] On 27 July 2007, the LTA announced the opening of the Kallang section of the expressway to traffic on 26 October 2007.[5]
Route
The Kallang Section of the expressway starts from an interchange with the East Coast Parkway near the fourteen-kilometre mark of the ECP in a northward direction, goes underground below the Geylang River, cuts across the Kallang Sports Complex to the west of the National Stadium, comes to an interchange at the Mountbatten Road/Nicoll Highway/Guillemard Road junction, crosses the East West MRT Line, before ending with an interchange with the Pan Island Expressway at the thirteen-kilometre mark of the latter.
The Paya Lebar Section continues from where the Kallang Section leaves off beneath the Kallang River and Pelton Canal past MacPherson Estate, comes to an interchange with Paya Lebar Road, Upper Paya Lebar Road, MacPherson Road and Airport Road, crosses over the Circle MRT Line which was under construction at the same time as the expressway, and continues for almost three and a half kilometres underground beneath Airport Road and the Paya Lebar Airbase, emerges at ground level near Defu Lane 3, goes on an elevated interchange over Tampines Road. It will meet Buangkok Drive at an interchange[6] before continuing towards the existing Tampines Flyover to meet with Tampines Expressway.
On 27 July 2007, the LTA announced an extension of the KPE from East Coast Parkway to the Ayer Rajah Expressway via Marina South. The stretch would be named Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE).[7]
Road interchanges
| Exit | Interchange | To | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| U/C | U/C | East Coast Parkway | Southbound exits opening on 26 October 2007 |
| U/C | U/C | Nicoll Highway | Southbound only |
| U/C | U/C | Pan Island Expressway, Sims Way | Northbound exits to PIE (opening on 26 October 2007), Southbound exits to PIE (Tuas), Sims Way |
| U/C | U/C | Airport Road, Macpherson Road, Paya Lebar Road and Upper Paya Lebar Road | |
| U/C | U/C | Bartley Road | |
| U/C | Defu Flyover | Tampines Road | Northbound exits opened on 23 June 2007 |
| U/C | U/C | Buangkok Drive | Northbound exit to Buangkok Drive, Southbound exit to Tampines Road |
| U/C | Tampines Flyover | Tampines Expressway | Northbound only |
Public education and congestion management
In 2006, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) engaged an advertising agency to embark on a public education programme, to inform and educate the public on the proper way to use the KPE — the first time it has done so for a road project. British firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) has been appointed to publicise safety messages needed to prepare users for the KPE. BBH, which in turn appointed British public relations firm Grayling, clinched the contract for S$2.81 million. Its campaign will start in the second quarter of 2007.
The LTA has also put up a tender calling for consultants to develop congestion management systems in the KPE. The call has drawn three submissions.[2]
References
- ^ Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway - Mott MacDonald Project Page
- ^ a b c Christopher Tan, "It's the first-ever ad blitz — for a highway", The Straits Times, 27 November 2006
- ^ "Road Closure — Services Affected: Services 53 & 81", SBS Transit, 22 June 2007
- ^ "Opening Of New Access Road To TPE From Tampines Road", Land Transport Authority, 22 June 2007
- ^ "Phase 1 , Kallang–Paya Lebar Expressway To Open On 26 October 2007", Land Transport Authority, 27 July 2007
- ^ "Award Of Contract For Construction Of Vehicular Bridge Over Sungei Serangoon", Land Transport Authority, 23 February 2006
- ^ "Government Approves the Construction of MCE", Land Transport Authority, 27 July 2007
