Roads in Changi

Yusry SG

This is not strictly about buses, but I have some queries on Changi and Upper Changi Roads.

1) Since there is now a New Upper Changi Road, how did Upper Changi Road connect to Changi Road formerly? Upp Changi Road ends at Anglican High School now. I suppose it ran almost parallel to New Upper Changi Road and connected to Changi Road at Siglap Road junction.

(Update) Hypothesis: Could it be that Chai Chee Street (ends at ITE Bedok) and Bedok North Street 1 (ends at Junction of Bedok North Avenue 3) was part of the former Upper Changi Road? These 2 roads have non-standard curvature that is more like of older Singapore Roads. BNS1 seems to be able to link smoothly to Upper Changi Road and CCS can also link to Changi Road via the 2 subsidiary roads at Changi Road (which are also called Changi Road).

2) Where are the locations for the former 10.8km and 13.3km markers on Upper Changi Road? Upper Changi Road is now so short, I can only see a 14km marker (junction of Bedok Road) in the street directories. I see a 18km marker on Upper Changi Road North, which I believe was part of the former Upper Changi Road. This makes me think that 13.3km and 10.8km markers were in the current Bedok HDB estate and not nearer to Somapah.

If anyone can get a softcopy map of the former Upper Changi Road, I would appreciate it a lot! Thanks.

delonchew SG

Your hypothesis is roughly correct. I used to stay in Chai Chee when I was much much younger (probably 4 or 5) until I was around 14. I can only remember vaguely that either Chai Chee Street or Chai Chee Drive was a renamed road and it was formerly known as Upper Changi Road. When I was younger, I would often look at street directories and I was wondering how could there be 2 Upper Changi Roads in Singapore (1 at Chai Chee and the other near Bedok Road). It was in the late 80s (if I remember correctly) that the government renamed the roads to Chai Chee Street or Drive.

service_238 SG

Technically, the government was cutting upp changi rd into bits and pieces back then. Same goes for jurong rd.

Old Jurong Rd at Bt Batok East, Jurong Rd at Bt Batok West.

th1988 SG

Like Jurong Road, Tampines Road was split up as well.

For Jurong Road
To redevelop into Bt Batok New Town.

For Upp Changi Road
To develop into Bedok New Town

For Tampines Road
To develop into Pasir Ris.

For HDB flats, the road cannot be kept as they have to restructure the roads as of new developments

service_238 SG

Well as least Punggol rd was still intact Smile

tranquilice SG

Before I touch on the roads in Changi, these are some of the road names in 1970s/early 1980s.

Jln Bt Merah between Henderson Rd and Lower Delta Rd was known as Gagak Selari Timor.

Jln Bt Merah between Lower Delta Rd and Kim Tian Rd was known as Gagak Selari Barat.

Lower Delta Rd during that time stretch from Delta Circus (current Alexandra Rd/Ganges Ave junction) to current Jln Bt Merah junction. The stretch after Jln Bt Merah was known as Gagak Selari Selatan, and was a cresent road. Lower Delta Rd between Jln Bt Merah and Kampong Bahru Rd did not exist.

Henderson Rd between Depot Rd and Telok Blangah Rd did not exist.

Ophir Rd did not exist then, Rochor Rd stretched from Bencoolen St/Jln Besar junction to Beach Rd, after Beach Rd, was a small road called Jln Laut which is the present site of Rochor flyover.

Clemenceau Ave stretch from Newton Circus to Havelock Rd junction.

Orchard Boulevard between Tomlinson Rd and Grange Rd was known as Woodstock Drive.

Shenton Way between Maxwell Rd and Keppel Rd did not exist. Traffic then used Anson Rd to get to Keppel Rd.

Ganges Ave did not exist, however there was a minor un-named road that seems to be Ganges Ave.

tranquilice SG

Upp Changi Rd was once a long stretch of road from New Upp Changi Rd to Changi Point (current Changi Village). The current Upp Changi Rd North/East and Changi Village Rd are called Upp Changi Rd back then.

Upp Changi Rd started near the present junction of Bedok South Ave 1 and New Upp Changi Rd (near block 207 and 209), continued thru a disappeared stretch in Bedok town to Anglican High School, then continued along the current stretch to Simei Rd, then continued along Upp Changi Rd East, Upp Changi Rd North to the junction of Loyang Way (near Selarang camp), after that it aligned to the right and continued on the present "slip road" of Upp Changi Rd North, passed by Calshot Rd and then continue via the present disappeared stretch and meet up at the end of present Changi Village Rd, then again passed by Tangmere Rd and continued to end at present Changi Village.

New Upp Changi Rd back then ended at the junction with Tanah Merah Kechil Rd. Chai Chee St and Chai Chee Drive was one road from Siglap Rd/New Upp Changi Rd junction to Upp Changi Rd.

There was also a road connecting ECP after Bayshore exit (towards airport) to Upp East Coast Rd Bedok camp but is now disappeared.

Yusry SG

Thanks for your enlightening replies.

tranquilice, just wondering if you happen to have street directories of old Singapore.... could you bring them along if you are joining us for the Hougang Central gathering on 22nd? Thanks.

tranquilice SG

I only have street directories from 1988 onwards.

carbikebus SG

You are quite right indeed,I used to heard and knows all those previous road names before.

Yusry SG

It's okay then. Mine are also 1988 onwards.

SBS9818A SG

Fellow user 9819Y has a 1981 Street Directory if I’m not mistaken.

Yusry SG

Sorry to bring up this old topic, but for the interest of some, I have finally "solved" the mystery.

Apparently, NUS Central Library has a damn good collection of street directories.

I've borrowed the 1976 directory which has an overlay of current Bedok Neighbourhood on the original Upper Changi Road.

Click the following URL for the large edition of the map.
http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~yusryhar/uppchangi.jpg

Now, for the location of the former 10.8km and 13.3km Upper Changi Road terminals, where 10, 11 and 12 used to terminate.

10.8km is near the SATA clinic in Chai Chee. 13.3km is at Anglican High. See the yellow boxes for approximate locations.

Superbus SG

Interesting.

Bedok Drive eventually became Bedok North Road and Bedok North Ave 1
Bedok Highway eventually became Bedok South Ave 1 and Bedok North Ave 2 (notice that Bedok Highway 'cuts' through the present Bedok Town Centre, I think it was proposed that Bedok Highway extends from ECP to Bedok North St 3, if not Bedok Reservoir Road)
Bedok Plain eventually became Bedok South Road
Bedok Place eventually became Bedok North Ave 3
Bedok Walk eventually became Bedok South Ave 2
Bedok View eventually became Bedok South Ave 3
New Changi Road was eventually renamed New Upper Changi Road

Very useful historical information. Thank you very much Yusry for that map.

Cheers and warm regards

service_238 SG

Good insight. Thanks Very Happy

tranquilice SG

Can make the map viewable again?

Yusry SG

It's up again.

iveco SG

The map was enlightening. How about the road changes in the Selarang camp area?

thots SG

did loyang ave exist during those day?

Yusry SG

No Loyang Avenue did not exist prior to construction of Changi International Airport.

Part of Upper Changi Road was absorbed into CIA and therefore Loyang Ave was constructed to provide a link between the split Upp Changi Road.