Higher ERP charges kick in but traffic still heavy on
some roads
Several changes were made to the Electronic Road Pricing system
today.
Along the CTE, ERP charges went up and along the Bukit Timah
expressway a new gantry is in place
However, the introduction of new gantries did not seem to ease this
morning's massive traffic jam along the BKE.
It usually takes Madam Chuang an hour to drive from her home in
Johore Bahru to her office in Singapore but today's congestion
added a whole hour to her total travelling time.
"It took me almost 2 hours. That's
because there was a heavy traffic jam along Woodlands Causeway, as
well as BKE. Probably this is due to a lot of drivers like me who
try to leave home a bit later so that we can avoid paying
ERP".
Another driver, Madam Sutini was stuck in the same
congestion.
The jam, she said, was terrible.
"Normally I travel from Jurong to
Thompson and I leave home normally at 8.45, and I reach my office
the latest by 9.15. Today I left at the same time, I reached at
9.45".
That is why some motorists feel that the ERP gantry at the BKE has
not fulfilled its purpose - to ease traffic flow.
It has done nothing to clear the expressway of vehicles, says irate
taxi driver, Mr Anba.
"Traffic - you can't clear. Especially that hour. All peak hours.
People want to go to work, they rush. Once they have the ERP, only
the price is going up, but the problem is not solved. The traffic
jams are still there".
Motorists who purposely set out late to avoid paying ERP charges
could be one of the causes of this jam but Mediacorp Radio's
Traffic Watch says the massive bottleneck was more likely to be
caused by three separate road accidents that occured within metres
of one another.
One of the accidents took place on the BKE, near the satellite
station at around 7.45 am.
A few minutes later, a vehicle pile-up occured on the PIE near the
Stevens Road exit just down the road.
Traffic Watch says the congestion was cleared shortly after
9am.
While traffic was heavy along the BKE, the situation at Central
Expressway was very different.
Unlike previous peak hours, driving on the CTE between 8.30 to 9
was a breeze this morning.
This could be due to the 50 cents increase in ERP charges.
Mr Chong, a taxi driver was very pleased with this development but
he does not think this change will be permanent.
"I think they will come back. They still need the convenience
travelling on the CTE".
A reminder to motorists travelling from the city towards Ang Mo Kio
this evening:
A new gantry along the north-bound CTE just before the PIE exit
will be operational today.
Evening ERP hours on the CTE are from 5.30pm to 10.30pm.
Also starting today are evening ERP charges on the east-bound ECP
from 6pm to 8pm on weekdays.
but....... The Good Times says:
