Meeting today between MP, LTA and residents to work out solutions
Ng Jing Yng Today Online 7 Jun 11;
SINGAPORE - The residents of a Bukit Timah condominium are upset that construction work for an MRT station is taking place right at their doorstep.
While the drilling has begun for the King Albert Park MRT Station, part of the Downtown Line 2, Maplewoods residents said they only found out recently that the construction space for the tunnel-boring machine is located at their condominium's exit and entrance points.
Residents told MediaCorp that, from this Saturday, they would have to take an alternative route from the condominium, which many claimed would be dangerous and inconvenient for their children going to the nearby Methodist Girls' School (MGS), given the presence of heavy construction vehicles and fast-moving vehicles.
Motorists leaving the condominium will also have to contend with fast-moving traffic along Bukit Timah Road. Many wanted to know why they were not consulted in advance as the boring activity would also block rubbish trucks and fire engines from entering the condominium area.
Out of the condominium's 697 units, 458 signed a petition which was sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Residents also met their Member of Parliament Christopher De Souza to highlight their worries.
Ms Nancy Lim, 41, who has a daughter studying in Primary 1 in MGS, said: "We are aware that the train station will come to benefit Bukit Timah residents but there has to be some sort of burden sharing. This area is very densely populated and we would like an explanation."
Mr De Souza said the residents had "genuine concerns" and told MediaCorp that some solutions would be offered at a meeting today.
Options include opening up a link between Maplewoods and MGS and having a dedicated filter lane into Bukit Timah Road for exiting drivers.
"I won't be able to address all the concerns as there are construction limitations. But I'll do my best," Mr De Souza said.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA), in response to media queries, said officers had regularly updated residents on construction work and had reviewed the traffic scheme following their feedback.
While disruptions were expected, its spokesperson said the LTA would work closely with residents and Mr De Souza to provide regular updates and address concerns.
More details of the review will be made known at today's meeting.
Solutions offered to Maplewoods residents
Channel NewsAsia 7 Jun 11;
SINGAPORE: MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Christopher De Souza, has offered solutions to residents of a Bukit Timah condominium for construction works that has begun for the King Albert Park MRT station.
Residents of Maplewoods have earlier signed a petition against the construction works at their doorstep.
They would have to take an alternative route from the condominium, which they claimed would be dangerous for their children going to the nearby Methodist Girls' School (MGS).
Mr De Souza met residents on Tuesday evening and stressed that safety issues would be a priority. He assured residents that the footpath along Bukit Timah Road would be kept.
Also, a pathway linking Maplewoods directly into MGS could be built. Other ideas include reconfiguring traffic flowing in and out of Maplewoods.
Mr De Souza said he cannot over promise as there are construction limits. But where safety of children and drivers are concerned, Mr De Souza believes he can deliver.
He said residents were open to the ideas and were relieved as the safety of their children have been looked after.
Mr De Souza also gathered feedback from residents concerning the issue of flash floods - which also affected Maplewoods on Sunday.
He said: "I thought that it would be good to come to the ground, understand the anxieties of residents where the floods where concern. Because the last time when I was with the residents of Tessarina, we managed to find a public-private partnership solution to raise Wilby Road and that has caused the prevention of floods this time round for Tessarina.
"So I wanted to understand the terrain, the resident's concerns, feel their anxieties and see how we can come up with solution to decrease the flooding in future."
-CNA/ac
Construction works near Bukit Timah condo postponed for a week
Ng Jing Yng Today Online 8 Jun 11;
SINGAPORE - After a meeting which lasted more than four hours with the authorities and their Member of Parliament (MP), residents at a Bukit Timah condominium will see construction works, which involve a tunnel-boring machine, postponed for a week.
Following the closed-door meeting at Maplewoods condominium along Bukit Timah Road, residents told MediaCorp that the discussions were extensive but there were still some issues to be sorted out.
The condo residents had wanted the tunnel-boring machine meant for constructing the King Albert Park MRT Station, part of the Downtown Line 2, to be shifted away from their condo entrance and exit points.
They were worried that the alternative route, which they were supposed to take from this Saturday due to the construction works, would be dangerous and disruptive for their children walking to the nearby Methodist Girls' School (MGS) and drivers exiting to busy Bukit Timah Road.
Speaking to reporters mid-way through the meeting, MP Christopher De Souza explained that "it speaks of a (fairer) option" to locate the construction space for a tunnel-boring machine outside Maplewoods condominium, as situating it at Sixth Avenue would result in having to demolish the 10 shophouses and evicting residents living there.
"I cannot overpromise but on the issue of safety… we have already come up with new proposals and we can deliver a much safer option already to the residents," he added.
Together with Land Transport Authority officials, Mr De Souza presented solutions to ease residents' safety concerns. They include retaining the original walkway but narrowing it to accommodate construction works and having road marshals to direct construction vehicles.
While the rubbish collection area will be cordoned of for construction, he said rubbish trucks will be allowed into the construction sites for daily refuse removal.
One Maplewoods resident whose daughter is studying in MGS (Secondary), said she was glad that their voices were being heard. Although the residents did not agree with all the solutions offered, they did show some initiative on the part of the decision-makers, said the resident, who asked not to be named.
However, another resident, whose daughter is in MGS (Primary), felt that the meeting did not yield much as the options presented left them with no room for negotiations.
