NEO TIEW ROAD (Damage by heavy military trucks)

Mr Tang See Chim asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that the heavy military trucks using Neo Tiew Road are causing extensive damage to the road which is not designed to carry such heavy traffic; and whether he is going to prohibit such use and, if not, whether his Ministry will undertake to repair the damage caused to the road.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong (for the Minister of Defence): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Neo Tiew Road is a rural road used by the public at large. It is prone to damage by erosion because of poor drainage. Traffic on it has become heavy since the construction of Woodlands New Town. Although the road has a tarred surface, damage is primarily on the untarred road shoulders which vehicles drive onto to avoid oncoming traffic.

Neo Tiew Road itself is not within the SAF training area. Therefore, it is occasionally used by SAF units at Woodlands and Sungei Gedong as a convenient by-pass to gain access to the training areas in the western and northern sectors of the island. More than 95% of the traffic comprises civilian tippers and other heavy goods vehicles. MINDEF vehicles are therefore not the primary cause of damage to the road.

The hon. Member for Chua Chu Kang may be pleased to know that MINDEF has requested the Public Works Department to look into the need to upgrade the road. In the meantime, the SAF will continue to assist in the repair of the road on the basis of gotong royong as has been done in the past, even though the contribution from SAF vehicles to the damage of the road is less than 5%.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Tang, any supplementary question?

Mr Tang See Chim: I am quite happy with the answer, Sir.