Work on DTL2 starts
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_398550.html
WORK has started on the second phase of the Downtown Line (DTL),
which will connect residents in Bukit Panjang and Bukit Timah to
the city.
Transport Minister Raymond Lim launched the start of
construction on Friday morning in a groundbreaking ceremony near
Beauty World Plaza.
The 16.6km DTL2 will have 12 stops and is expected to be
completed by 2015. It starts from Bukit Panjang, passes through the
Bukit Timah corridor and runs to Rochor.
From there, it will link up with the first phase of the line,
which loops around the Marina Bay area and the Central Business
District.
The new line is expected to cut travelling times by up to 30 per
cent.
Speaking to an audience that included Bukit Panjang and Bukit
Timah residents, Mr Lim said: 'Those who live, work and go to
school in this area will enjoy a completely new way to travel.'
Residents, however, would have to put up with a series of road
traffic diversions as the stations are constructed.
Upper Bukit Timah Road, for example, will be realigned from as
early as the fourth quarter of this year for the building of Beauty
World station.
However, the Land Transport Authority stressed that traffic
capacity will not drop as diverted roads will go through a
lane-for-lane replacement.
'As with other major rail construction projects, there will some
disruption and inconvenience... I seek the understanding of
residents, motorists and other commuters in this area,' said Mr
Lim.
The $12 billion Downtown Line is being built in three phases and
will be fully completed in 2016. The third phase will eventually
run to the eastern part of Singapore, passing through Macpherson
and ending at Expo.
