OPENING UP OF CENTRE DIVIDER ALONG BEDOK HIGHWAY

Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin asked the Minister for National Development and Communications if the Public Works Department will look into the feasibility of constructing an opening from Bedok Highway, which has light traffic, into the car park between Blocks 2 and 3 so that traffic coming from Upper East Coast Road can make a right turn into the car park instead of having to go up to New Changi Road to do a "U" turn, an extra distance of approximately one kilometre.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, Bedok Highway is a dual two-lane road with a centre divider connecting New Changi Road to Upper East Coast Road and East Coast Parkway. It is also the only link road between Bedok New Town and East Coast Parkway. At present, traffic volume along Bedok Highway is light but is expected to increase over a period. Because of this, it is necessary that traffic disruption from side roads and accesses be minimised. There have been similar requests from the junior college and factories in the vicinity to open up the centre divider along the Highway. These requests have been turned down as traffic disruption from side roads and accesses through the numerous gaps in the centre divider will defeat the purpose of the Highway. Therefore, it is not recommended to open up the divider along Bedok Highway to allow traffic from Upper East Coast Road direction to turn right into the car park between Blocks 2 and 3.