LTA to prioritise North-South Corridor surface works to reduce noise & dust by end-2027
In some places, they have had to tunnel "less than one metre" away from the MRT lines.
The North-South Corridor (NSC) project in Singapore, one of the most intricate road developments undertaken by the government, aims to enhance connectivity between the northern regions and the city, particularly benefiting new towns such as Sembawang, Woodlands, and Yishun. Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow acknowledged that while the project's benefits are years away, it is causing significant inconveniences for residents and businesses currently experiencing construction disruptions.
Siow highlighted that the government will employ all available measures to minimize the impact on the ground, including prioritising surface works to reduce noise and dust levels for nearby residents. However, a setback occurred when the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that the NSC's completion date has been postponed from 2027 to 2029 due to significant construction challenges.
In a parliamentary speech on October 6, Siow elaborated on the reasons for the delays, explaining that the NSC traverses densely built-up areas, bypasses major utilities and heavily used roads, and even crosses MRT lines in some instances. Unexpectedly difficult excavation conditions and the need to maintain a safe distance from MRT lines have further exacerbated the project's timeline.
After encountering various obstacles, the LTA deployed additional personnel and equipment, adjusted construction methods, and altered the order of works. However, attempting to compress the schedule further would have introduced substantial safety risks. Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to assisting affected businesses and residents.
LTA will focus on completing major surface works, which are responsible for the majority of dust and noise, by the end of 2027. From 2028 onwards, the authority will begin the process of restoring roads, footpaths, and affected spaces.
To ease the impact on businesses and pedestrians, the LTA has installed signs and banners to guide customers through disrupted pedestrian routes and road access changes. Siow emphasized that while the government does not provide financial compensation to stakeholders as a general principle, businesses already receiving rental rebates on a case-by-case basis will continue to do so where justified.
Some businesses, particularly in the Novena area, have experienced a decline in customer traffic of up to 75 percent due to the ongoing construction.
Written by urgent.news from Mothership's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
