WIDENING OF JALAN KAYU AND SELETAR ROAD/ANG MO KIO NEW TOWN LINK

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for National Development whether there are plans to (i) widen Jalan Kayu and (ii) connect Seletar Road directly to Ang Mo Kio New Town.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Public Works Department has no plan to widen Jalan Kayu as the traffic volume along the road is still low.

The Public Works Department does not favour linking Seletar Road directly with Ang Mo Kio New Town. While the link would provide a convenient access for the residents in Seletar Road area to the New Town, it would also encourage extraneous traffic to use Seletar Road, and this would be detrimental to the quiet environment of the residential areas.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng (Jalan Kayu): Sir, may I ask the Minister of State that, as long as these reasons are valid, may I have his assurance that there will be no plan to link Seletar Road with Ang Mo Kio New Town? And secondly, should there be such a plan, would he seek the opinion of the Member of Parliament for the area?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I said, PWD is in favour of retaining the quiet environment of the neighbourhood. Therefore, unless there are unexpected changes or pressing need, it is unlikely that the Department would want to make the connection of these roads. But when the need arises, I am sure the Department will consult the Member of Parliament for that area.