Unhappy residents express concerns over new access road

Source : Channel NewsAsia - 5 Oct 2008

Residents affected by the new access road to the Serangoon Gardens foreign workers’ dormitory have expressed their concerns to their Member of Parliament.

They are unhappy that the road will link the site to a few thousand landed homes along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, and they said buses ferrying the foreign workers will create traffic congestion and noise.

The new access road shifts the dormitory entrance to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, near Tai Hwan and Mei Hwan estates.

Eleanor Tan, Mei Hwan estate resident, said: “We only knew about the new road yesterday and that is a dangerous spot. I live exactly opposite the new road and I see accidents along the slip road.”

At a dialogue session, Aljunied GRC MP Lim Hwee Hua said the new road will take six to nine months to build.

She said: “There could be another opening further up north, although I know that the Land Transport Authority has looked at that possibility with exactly the same intention – to minimise the need to go all the way down. Nonetheless, I’ll bring it back again to LTA and ask them to take a deeper, closer look at it. To see whether that can be done or not.”

Mrs Lim added that the new dormitory will only be operational when the access road is completed. She also clarified that the road is not part of the current Central Expressway (CTE) widening plan. It was specifically conceptualised as a result of the dormitory.

Talks are also underway with the authorities to step up security patrols, at least for the first year.

The existing neighbourhood committee that has already been formed to address the issue will now be expanded to include 10 to 15 more members. These committee members are also residents who have specific concerns with regard to the foreign workers’ dormitory.

Tsu Chin Siang, Tai Hwan estate resident, said: “Most likely they have to build a long fence towards Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, so that at least you disadvantage them from coming back to Tai Hwan estate.”

It is unclear when the dormitory will be operational, but Mrs Lim said she hopes the tender can be put up by next month so that the expected five-year lease on the dormitory can be completed at an earlier date.

She added that the residents’ requests will be given to the future dorm operators.