TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG UPPER THOMSON ROAD (Plans to relieve)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for National Development and Communications what is the overall plan to relieve the heavy traffic congestion along Upper Thomson Road.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, to relieve the heavy traffic congestion along Upper Thomson Road, two new major arterial roads will be constructed to cater for traffic from the Upper Thomson Road/Ang Mo Kio New Town areas, viz, the East-West Arterial Road from Upper Thomson Road to Lorong Chuan and the North-South Arterial Link Road from Thomson Road to Avenue 6, Ang Mo Kio.

Part of the East-West Arterial Road from Upper Thomson Road to Avenue 8. Ang Mo Kio, is completed and is open to traffic. The second part of the road from Avenue 8 to Lorong Chuan is expected to be completed by March this year

The North-South Arterial Road project comprises 3.2 km of roadway and two bridge structures. This new North-South Road will run from Avenue 1, Ang Mo Kio, to cross over Braddell Road and link up with Thomson Road. As parts of the site are encumbered, construction work for the project is being carried out in stages. Phase I of the project near Avenue 1 comprising a bridge across Sungei Kallang and some approach road work is under construction. Tenders for the construction of Phase II of this road from Braddell Road to Thomson Road and for Phase Ill of the project from Braddell Road to Avenue 1 will be called for in June and September this year respectively.

The entire project is expected to complete by November 1979. With the completion of this road, the traffic congestion along Upper Thomson Road will be relieved considerably as City-bound traffic from Ang Mo Kio New Town will be diverted onto this new road.