AsiaOne 10 jan 15;
SINGAPORE - Soon, residents of Bedok and East Coast will be able to enjoy a new pedestrian and cycling route that takes them from East Coast Park to Bedok Reservoir Park.
The new 4-km route will be ready by the end of next year, reported The Straits Times.
According to the report, there will be directional signs and amenities along the way such as play equipment.
The route runs through Bedok South Ave 1, New Upper Changi Road and Bedok North Ave 1, and also takes users pass Bedok MRT station and Bedok Town Centre.
This is part of a project called Outdoor Play Corridor and the Housing Development Board (HDB) said in a statement that construction will commence second half of this year.
Meanwhile, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is also rolling out a cycling network within East Coast that will connect MRT stations, schools and neighbourhood centres.
In addition, a heritage trail that will highlight the heritage sites in Bedok and East Coast area will also completed by the first half 2016.
These initiatives are part of the second phase of a billion-dollar Remaking Our Heartland programme in which three mature estates East Coast, Jurong Lake and Hougang are being rejuvenated.
Other initiatives include an enhanced pedestrian mall at Bedok Town Centre that will have more ramps and seating areas by next year, and a new Bedok Integrated Complex - slated to be completed by 2017 - that will house Kampong Chai Chee Community Club, Bedok Sports Centre, Bedok Polyclinic, an Eldercare Centre and Bedok Public Library.
Eight neighbourhood centres within Bedok are also being spruced up with new features such as improved landscaping, more distinctive street furniture and new shelters and mini pavilions. Upgrading works at Chai Chee and Fengshan are already underway and are scheduled to be completed this year.
New cycling, pedestrian paths from Bedok Reservoir to East Coast Park
AMANDA LEE Today Online 10 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE — Bedok residents can look forward to cycling and pedestrian paths as well as a cycling network, under the Government's rejuvenation programme for its estates.
A 4km Outdoor Play Corridor will provide dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths connecting Bedok Town Centre to East Coast Park and Bedok Reservoir Park. Construction will start in the second half of this year.
Also, a cycling network within the East Coast area — connecting to main activity nodes such as the MRT stations, schools, and Neighbourhood Centres (NCs) — will be completed by the first half of 2017.
Giving an update on the developments in the East Coast area — which include the Bedok town centre area and other neighbourhoods within Bedok town — the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said good progress has been made since it announced its Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) plans for the area in 2011. These include the completion of Bedok Mall, the Bedok Integrated Transport Hub, and the Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre and Multi-Storey Car Park, which has 400 parking lots.
In the works are a new Bedok Town Plaza, a heritage corner, and the new Bedok Integrated Complex that will house the Kampong Chai Chee Community Club, Bedok Sports Centre, Bedok Polyclinic, an eldercare centre and Bedok Public Library. The complex is set to be completed by 2017.
To deepen residents’ knowledge on the history of the area, a heritage trail – highlighting the heritage sites in Bedok and East area – will be completed by the first half of next year.
Plans for other NCs in the area are under various stages of implementation and are expected to be completed by next year. New features being installed include entrance markers and community plazas.
The ROH programme was created after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke of the need to help HDB estates keep pace with the changing needs of the community in his National Day Rally in 2007. Punggol, Yishun and Dawson were the first to be selected for the programme. This was followed by East Coast, Hougang and Jurong Lake.
About 250,000 residents live in Bedok. Those TODAY spoke to welcomed the new developments, citing convenience brought to the area.
Housewife Vandita Khanderwar, who has been living in Bedok for four years, said she does not have to go to Parkway Parade at Marine Parade Road to shop anymore. “I can get everything here at Bedok Mall. There’s Uniqlo and Popular too,” added the 41-year-old.
Delivery packer Xin Yong Cheng, 55, felt that the developments were only necessary as the Bedok estate is old. “Last time there is a hawker centre, now they just upgrade, so it’s the same,” added Mr Xin who has been living in Bedok for seven years.
The public can visit the ROH exhibition situated in front of Block 209 New Upper Changi Road for more information. It will be open from tomorrow (Jan 11) to next Sunday from 11am to 9pm.
Outdoor Play Corridor, cycling network in the works for Bedok residents
Channel NewsAsia 10 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has announced plans to enhance the Republic's East Coast area as part of the "Remaking Our Heartland" (ROH) programme, following the completion of the Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, Bedok Integrated Transport Hub and Bedok Mall.
In a media release, HDB said work on an Outdoor Play Corridor, which provides cycling and pedestrian paths connecting Bedok Town Centre to East Coast Park and Bedok Reservoir Park, will commence in the second half of this year.
A cycling network within East Coast, which will connect MRT stations, schools and Neighbourhood Centres (NCs), will be completed by the first half of 2017. In addition, a heritage trail, which will highlight the heritage sites in the Bedok and East Coast areas, will be completed by the first half of 2016, HDB said.
ROH plans for East Coast also include eight NCs within Bedok Town. New features planned for the NCs include entrance markers, community plazas, floor retiling, playgrounds, mini pavilions, as well as street furniture and lighting unique to each NC.
Upgrading works at Chai Chee and Fengshan NCs are underway, while the rest are under various stages of implementation and are on track for completion by next year, the media release stated.
The opening ceremony for the Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre will be held on Sunday (Jan 11). At the same time, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the upcoming Bedok Town Plaza and Heritage Corner - which will be built on the site of the previous hawker centre located at Block 207 Upper Changi Road.
- CNA/dl
