TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ZEBRA CROSSINGS

Mr Bernard Rodrigues asked the Minister of State (Prime Minister's Department) if he will consider (a) the installation of traffic lights at the junctions of (i) Kampong Bahru Road/Keppel Road/Telok Blangah Road and (ii) Nelson Road/Keppel Road; and (b) the establishment of zebra crossings at Telok Blangah Road (i) in front of Gate No. 10 and (ii) in front of the Kampong Jagoh Malay School.

Tuan Haji Yaacob Bin Mohamed: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, the volume of traffic along Keppel Road is fairly heavy, whereas it is negligible on Kampong Bahru Road. A "Halt" sign is installed along Kampong Bahru Road and its junction with Keppel Road. Vehicles from Kampong Bahru Road can filter left into Keppel Road without any difficulty at all. However, vehicles intending to turn right into Keppel Road will have to wait for a short while for a break in the flow of traffic, which is very frequent, to negotiate a right turn. The expense to be incurred in installing a traffic light is not justified and it is not proposed to install a traffic light at this junction.

(a) (ii) Traffic Light at Nelson Road/Keppel Road

A traffic light at Nelson Road/Keppel Road junction is not proposed for similar reasons. The volume of traffic is even more negligible than that of Kampong Bahru Road.

(b) (i) Zebra Crossing along Telok Blangah Road outside Gate No. 10, Port of Singapore Authority

The majority of pedestrians crossing this road are the P.S.A. workers. In the morning they cross the road in twos and threes; but in the evening, since the employees finish work at the same time, about 200 to 300 persons cross the road opposite this gate. This crossing takes place in less than 15 minutes, and once the employees have gone home, very few pedestrians cross the road at this point.

There are sufficient breaks in the flow of traffic to allow pedestrians safe crossing. A zebra crossing cannot be located opposite Gate No. 10 because of the existing taxi stand and the S.T.C. bus terminus. If a zebra crossing is to be located along Telok Blangah Road, it will have to be located at least 300 feet away from Gate No. 10 and the pedestrians will not take the trouble to walk all this distance to cross the road. It is therefore not proposed to have a zebra crossing.

(b) (ii) Zebra Crossing along Telok Blangah Road outside Kampong Jagoh Malay School

Other than students, the number of pedestrians crossing Keppel Road is very negligible - an occasional villager crossing the road to the bus stop.

A school crossing patrolman is employed at this school to assist the children in crossing the road.

In view of this, there is no justification in providing a zebra crossing.