ORCHARD AND DHOBY GHAUT MRT STATIONS (Additional pedestrian crossings)

Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for National Development when additional pedestrian crossings will be provided near the Orchard and the Dhoby Ghaut Mass Rapid Transit stations.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, in December 1987, two pedestrian signal crossings were switched on to serve the Orchard and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations.

There are plans to replace both of them with pedestrian underpasses. The work on the underpass near Orchard Station is expected to commence by the end of this year.

As for the underpass near Dhoby Ghaut Station, it is necessary to integrate it with future development on the vacant site near MacDonald House. We do not expect to start work on this underpass in the immediate future.

Sir, additional pedestrian signal crossings will increase the already large number of traffic lights along Orchard Road. My Minister has asked the Public Works Department to work together with the Traffic Police to review the number of traffic lights along Orchard Road with a view to removing as many of them as possible.

Junction lights are essential and can also function as pedestrian crossings. Where junctions are close together, there is no need to provide additional pedestrian crossing lights between junctions.

Mr Chng Hee Kok (Radin Mas): Sir, will the Minister of State explain why was this underpass not considered earlier when the Orchard Road MRT station was constructed? A second question. How long will it take to build this underpass if they start building at the end of this year?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, in fact, underpasses at both Orchard and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations were already planned for right from the beginning. The one opposite the Orchard MRT station was meant to be provided by the developer of the Dynasty Hotel. There has been some correspondence going on between the developer and my Ministry, resulting in a delay in initiating the construction. As of now, my Ministry has decided that the Public Works Department will proceed with the construction and charge the cost to the developer.

I am afraid at the moment I do not know exactly when the construction of the Orchard MRT station underpass will be completed. But I will be glad to inform the Member separately.