Few days ago, I went to look
at Joo Koon Bus Interchange. The site is still (mostly) under
construction. Cannot really see any fitting of fixtures yet. Most
importantly, there's no signboard saying "Joo Koon Bus Interchange"
or something like that. Needless to say, there is no sighting of
buses going inside and coming out.
With such sighting, I think the new Joo Koon Bus Interchange may
not open in mid-November this year. When the news report mentioned
Joo Koon Bus Interchange will be ready by end-2014, I guess they
only meant the bus interchange complete construction.
Personally, I think Joo Koon Bus Interchange will only open in
December 2014 or June 2015, because this is a new bus interchange,
and its opening will mean a revamp to the bus networks at Tuas,
Jurong Industrial Estate and Jurong West.
This is unlike the other bus interchanges where the bus routes
are already fixed and re-location would not have much impact on the
routes.
Since there will be a revamp of bus networks, I think it would
be wise to open it only during a certain time of the year where
there are low traffic and changes to traffic volumes would not
change so fast (long period of time), so people can make smooth
adjustments and adapt well to the revamp, with minimal disruptions
to their lives. Likewise for the bus company and the bus
drivers.
Joo Koon Bus Interchange is a completely new bus interchange.
Everything is new. Since it is everything new, there is really a
need for time to make adjustments. #justsaying