PUB to enhance flood protection at Bukit Timah Canal

SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB has announced it will be enhancing flood protection for the upstream section of the Bukit Timah Canal.

To do that, the PUB plans to widen and deepen the Bukit Timah 1st Diversion Canal.

This will increase drainage capacity in the Upper Bukit Timah catchment by about 30 per cent.

It is hoped this will prevent a repeat of flashfloods in the area.

The expansion will be carried out in three phases.

Phase One — costing some S$33.7 million — will see a new box culvert or underground drain built across Ulu Pandan Road.

The second phase involves the expansion of 1.6 kilometres of existing drains between Maple Avenue and Holland Green.

This expansion is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2013 and is slated for completion by the last quarter of 2015.

Details for the third phase are still being worked out.

A wider and deeper canal will increase the capacity to hold more rainwater and therefore minimise the risk of flooding.

PUB’s catchment & waterways director, Tan Nguan Sen, said: "It will definitely alleviate flooding in the flood—prone areas by increasing the capacity of the drainage system. The extent and the severity of the flood will be much reduced and of course if there is any flash floods that occur, it will minimise the impact."

During construction, six lanes of road leading towards Clementi and the city will be diverted. The road diversions will take place in the later stages of construction to minimise disruption to residents at Pine Grove condominium.

The two bus stops and overhead bridge outside Pine Grove condominium will also be temporarily relocated.

Many Pine Grove residents said they weren’t aware of the construction work, which begins next month.

This is despite PUB saying it had briefed the condominium’s Management Corporation Strata Title some months ago.

Chia Shu Hui, who has been a resident at Pine Grove condominium for 18 years, said: "It’s going to be really annoying, frankly. I also think it’s going to jam, really bad, because every time it rains, the road over there will jam. So it’s going to be really annoying, inconvenient. But if it stops flooding further down or further up, it’s going to be good in the long run. But in the short run, it’s going to be inconvenient for everybody."

Another resident Lynn Liew said: "We haven’t heard anything regarding the works but currently we have other entrances and exits, so it’s not really much of a problem."

Retiree David Low, 65, said: "Yes it’s a bit inconvenient, especially for those elderly people."

The entire upgrading project is expected to be completed by 2016.

— CNA/xq/ck