I think 181 also might get extended in future to Bulim area.
When 181 was introduced almost ten years ago, on 9 January 2005,
it was most likely a short term measure to provide bus connection
into Jurong West Street 24/25, while relieve loading from 243 at
Jurong West Street 64/75.
There may be long term plans in the past to have
feeder bus services plying directly (via Jalan Boon Lay and Jalan
Bahar) to Jurong West Street 24/25 when there are more residential
developments, when Bulim/Wenya was still designated for
Housing.
Now is just 181 providing bus service into Jurong West Street
24/25 from Boon Lay Bus Interchange, with 185 providing bus service
into Jurong West Street 24/25 from Jurong West Extension and Jurong
West New Town, excluding Taman Jurong. (Possible new BSEP [eg.
route extension to 49], from Taman Jurong to Bulim?)
Bus ride on 181 from Jurong West Street 25/23 to Boon Lay Bus
Interchange is around 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, bus ride on
199/172 from Jalan Bahar to Boon Lay Bus Interchange is around 10
minutes.
As mentioned previously, there
are (were) plans to re-route 181 to loop around Bulim Industrial
Estate and use Jalan Bahar (Westwood Secondary School) to return to
Jurong West Avenue 5. However, looking at the developments now, I
do not think 181 will be
re-routed soon.