OVERHEAD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES (Accessible to elderly and disabled)

OVERHEAD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES: **

(Accessible to elderly and disabled): **

2.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will (i) consider modifying the existing overhead pedestrian bridges which have very high steps, to make them more accessible to the elderly and disabled persons; and (ii) ensure that all new overhead pedestrian bridges that are built, will be elderly and disabled-friendly.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Mdm Halimah Yacob asked if pedestrian overhead bridges (POBs) will have lower steps to make them more accessible to the elderly and the disabled, and whether the new bridges that LTA builds will be elderly and disabled-friendly.

As mentioned in our response to a similar query by the Honourable Member Mr Ivan Png at the last Committee of Supply, LTA has revised the design of the staircases of new POBs to conform to BCA's Code of Practice on Barrier-Free Accessibility in Buildings since 2000. The step heights of POBs have been reduced from 175mm to 150mm while the

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step widths have also been increased from 288mm to 300mm. As for existing bridges, the new standards will apply as and when they are due for replacement as it is not cost effective to conduct a massive replacement exercise.

Going forward, LTA will look into providing ramps for POBs where there is a need, for instance, where there are no at-grade crossings nearby, and where space permits. Generally this applies to POBs spanning expressways and semi-expressways. In addition, LTA will also be implementing colour contrast strips at the edge of each step to enable the elderly and the visually handicapped to discern the steps better.

Much as we would like to make POBs more accessible to the elderly and the disabled, it is not possible to provide ramps across-the-board, given that many POBs are located in densely built-up areas, with land-take constraints. In fact, at-grade crossings are more accessible than POBs and are the preferred form of crossing for the elderly and physically challenged. Therefore, to better meet the needs of this group, LTA will endeavour to provide more at-grade crossings at suitable locations.

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