TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT MOUNTBATTEN ROAD/NICOLL HIGHWAY AND IN ANG MO KIO NEW TOWN

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng asked the Minister for National Development how long ago were the traffic lights at the filter lane into Nicoll Highway from the Mountbatten Road end installed and why they are not put to use.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the traffic lights at the filter lane from Mountbatten Road into Nicoll Highway were installed in 1973 and used during the 7th SEAP Games to enable pedestrians to cross to the Stadium. From experience, it was found that operation of the lights created traffic problems along Mountbatten Road. As a result, the Ministry constructed a pedestrian overhead bridge across Nicoll Highway, near the People's Association, to enable pedestrians to cross Nicoll Highway to the Stadium. The traffic lights are, therefore, redundant and will be removed.

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to note that he is removing them. But will he remove them to a road junction in my constituency that is accident prone, that is, Jalan Satu/Old Airport Road junction?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, I will ask the PWD to look into the request.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Hon. Minister please inform the House how many more lives will have to be lost before he will expedite the installation of traffic lights at major road junctions in Ang Mo Kio, and what has accounted for the apparent delay in the installation of traffic lights?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Member for Jalan Kayu that the installation of traffic lights in Ang Mo Kio has to be expedited. In fact, I have asked the PWD to expedite the installation of these traffic lights.

The traffic lights at the junction of Avenue 3 and Avenue 8, Ang Mo Kio New Town, are currently under construction. The tender was awarded on 17th April, 1980, for a period of 2 1/2 months. The work is targeted for completion by 9th July, 1980. But because accidents have occurred quite regularly there, I have asked the PWD to ask the contractor to expedite the work. I have been informed that the traffic lights will be in operation by the end of this month, i.e. in the next few days.

Under the same contract, traffic lights will also be installed at the junction of Avenue 3 and Avenue 10. There will be traffic lights at nine major road junctions within Ang Mo Kio New Town. Four traffic lights are already in operation, two are under construction and three more, namely, at the junction of Avenues 5, 4, 6 and 8 will be completed within the next six months. It is rather unfortunate that a traffic accident occurred at the junction of Avenue 3 and Avenue 8 before the completion and operation of the traffic lights.

However, traffic lights alone will not prevent accidents. Motorists must also exercise due caution, especially at road junctions, to prevent accidents.