WIDENING OF LORONG CHUAN

Dr Lau Teik Soon asked the Minister for National Development if his Ministry will expedite the implementation of the plan to widen Lorong Chuan in view of the heavy traffic and frequent congestion along the road from Yio Chu Kang Road to Braddell Road.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Teh Cheang Wan): Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to a question raised by the hon. Member for Serangoon Gardens in January 1978, it was explained that there were no proposals to widen Lorong Chuan. The construction of two new roads in the vicinity, namely, the North-South Arterial Road between Thomson Road and Avenue 1, Ang Mo Kio, and the extension of Avenue 1, Ang Mo Kio, from Lorong Chuan to Boundary Road would relieve the peak hour traffic congestion along Lorong Chuan. These roads are scheduled for completion by December 1979 and October 1980 respectively.

Dr Lau Teik Soon (Serangoon Gardens): Sir, in view of what the Minister has just said, would he consider two proposals to alleviate the present problem of traffic congestion along Lorong Chuan: (a) to widen the stretch of road along Lorong Chuan, which has only one lane traffic; and (b) to install a traffic light system at the junction of Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Garden Way.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, to question (a), the answer is yes. The Public Works Department is considering the widening of Lorong Chuan, the stretch of one-lane traffic at the junction of Lorong Chuan and Braddell Road. And to question (b) on the installation of a traffic light at the junction of Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Garden Way, it is not practicable because Serangoon Garden Way is only a two-lane carriageway, that means one lane in either direction. If a traffic light is to be installed there, then Serangoon Garden Way will have to be widened to a four-lane carriageway, that means two lanes in either direction, otherwise the traffic light will not function effectively. Installation of a traffic light will involve the acquisition of properties, sometimes taking away the front gardens of residences for the widening of the road. We consider that to be undesirable. It would be better to wait for the new roads to be completed than taking away the front gardens of residences in that area.