NEO TIEW ROAD (Damage by refuse trucks)

Mr Tang See Chim asked the Minister for the Environment whether he is aware that the heavy refuse trucks of his Ministry are making use of Neo Tiew Road as a short-cut to the dumping ground at 32 km Lim Chu Kang Road, thereby causing damage to the road which is not designed to carry such heavy traffic; whether he will prohibit such use and, if not, why not; and if he is not prepared to prohibit such use, whether his Ministry will undertake to repair the damage caused to the road.

The Minister for the Environment (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Neo Tiew Road is a metalied road connecting Woodlands New Town to Lim Chu Kang Road. My Ministry deploys three refuse vehicles daily to remove refuse from Woodlands New Town and its vicinity, including 32 houses along Neo Tiew Road. After collection, these three vehicles make use of Neo Tiew Road to go to Lim Chu Kang Dumping Ground. This is the shorter route (by 11.5 km) and saves time, manpower and fuel.

With the development of Woodlands New Town, Neo Tiew Road has become an important link road with heavy traffic using it daily. These include private lorries, buses, military trucks, etc. The three refuse vehicles are not the only cause of the damage to the road. The answer to the hon. Member's problem is to request the Public Works Department to upgrade the road.

Mr Tang See Chim (Chua Chu Kang): Sir, is the Minister prepared to join me in requesting the PWD to upgrade the road and to maintain it, because at the moment it is not being maintained?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: The answer is yes.