Long-delayed Changi viaduct to open on Feb 19

Motorists eager to use new viaduct

- Christopher Tan

A viaduct in Changi that was initially delayed by a fatal and costly construction accident will finally open on Feb 19. In its latest update on Friday morning, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that with the opening of the viaduct – now officially named Tampines Viaduct – motorists will have an additional and direct route when travelling from Tampines Expressway (TPE) to the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) and Upper Changi Road East.

They will be able to bypass a stretch of the TPE between the Loyang and Upper Changi flyovers, as well as existing signalised junctions with Loyang Avenue and Upper Changi Road North.

The 1.8km-long, one-way viaduct will have a new exit (2A) from the TPE (towards PIE) after the existing Exit 2 that will help to redistribute the traffic heading to the PIE (towards Tuas) and Upper Changi Road East, the LTA added.

Construction of the viaduct originally called TPE/PIE/Changi viaduct or Changi viaduct - was initially undertaken local by builder OKP Holdings for $94.6 million in 2015. It was to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.

But a collapse of a section of the viaduct in July 2017 - caused by a series of erroneous designs, poor oversight and cover-ups - delayed works.