Woodsville Interchange

Woodsville Interchange is a road interchange located south of Potong Pasir in Singapore. It links four major roads and an expressway in Singapore: Upper Serangoon Road, Serangoon Road, Bendemeer Road, MacPherson Road and Pan Island Expressway cite press release | title = Upgrading Of Woodsville Interchange | publisher = Land Transport Authority | date = 17 May 2006 | url = http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1567 ] . It is currently undergoing an upgrading project to ease congestion which is expected to be completed by 2011.

History

The dual two-lane Woodsville Flyover was built between Jalan Kolam Ayer and Jalan Toa Payoh in 1982. Due to the increased traffic demand over the years, the flyover was upgraded in 1994 to a dual four-lane flyover, merging it with the Pan-Island Expressway extension. A flyover to cater to traffic heading towards the Central Expressway (CTE) was also included in the project.

Current traffic conditions

During peak hours, traffic volumes at this interchange are very high, reaching up to 8400 vehicles per hour, and it is near its traffic capacity. cite news | title = Woodsville Interchange to be upgraded with road tunnels, flyover | publisher = Channel NewsAsia | date = 14 May 2006 | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/208787/1/.html ] There has also been major traffic congestion at the at-grade road interchange, with a possible gridlock in a few years time. To ease the traffic flow, the Land Transport Authority have decided to upgrade this interchange.

2008 Upgrading project

The Woodsville Interchange upgrading project commenced in the third quarter of 2007 with the awarding of the Singapore branch of Gammon Construction Limited as the main civil contractor cite press release | title = Upgrading of Woodsville Interchange | publisher = OneMotoring | date = 3 March 2008 | url = http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publish/onemotoring/en/on_the_roads/road_projects/Woodsville_Interchange.html ] after a six-months study conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff Pte Ltd to evaluate the best construction method that is safe and best minimises inconvenience to motorists, residents and business owners, with the project expecting to be completed by 2011.

The project includes the building of three underpasses and an overpass. Two of the underpasses will have two lanes per direction each, stretching from Serangoon Road and Bendemeer Road to Upper Serangoon Road. The third underpass will have one lane and will stretch from MacPherson Road to Bendemeer Road. The flyover will stretch from a slip road of exit 15 along Pan Island Expressway to Kallang Way. In addition, once the project is completed, Whampoa North, a u-turn road from Bendemeer Road to Serangoon Road, will be closed to traffic and be removed, with the land returning to the government.

This project is one of the most expensive of its kind at S$20 million to S$30 million dollars and several times more expensive than any single flyover and tunnel project completed elsewhere in Singapore. It is one of the most complex as well due to the NEL tunnel beneath the interchange and a deep sewage tunnel which runs parallel to the expressway. Several buildings will be affected by the road widening and a portion of the former Serangoon Fire Station will have to be torn down.

Benefits

Once the upgrading project is completed, travel will be smoother between the east and the city; and the northeast and the city.

Traffic volume at the at-grade junction will also decrease allowing smoother traffic flow, especially for motorists entering Pan Island Expressway (westbound) from Upper Serangoon Road and MacPherson Road. The traffic capacity at this interchange will also increase to 11,000 vehicles per hour during peak hours.

ee also

*Pan Island Expressway
*Serangoon Road
* [http://www.lta.gov.sg/images/Map%20of%20upgrading%20works.pdf Blueprint of Woodsville Interchange Upgrading project]

Notes and references