North South Corridor Singapore
North-South Corridor, Singapore
The North-South Corridor (NSC), originally envisioned as the North-South Expressway (NSE), is a significant infrastructure project under construction in Singapore. Upon completion, it will be the country's 11th expressway, designed to alleviate traffic and improve connectivity from the northern regions to the city center.
The NSC is set to be a 21.5-kilometer (13.4 miles) expressway, with an estimated cost of S$7.47 billion, targeted for full completion in 2029. It will seamlessly connect the East Coast Parkway (ECP) with northern parts of Singapore, including the towns of Woodlands, Sembawang, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, and Toa Payoh. This expressway aims to serve traffic that is currently catered to by the Central Expressway (CTE).
Features
The NSC will be unique as Singapore's first "integrated transport corridor." This design includes dedicated bus lanes and cycling trunk routes, which will be integrated with the conventional expressway infrastructure. This forward-thinking approach aligns with Singapore's efforts to promote public transportation and sustainable mobility.
The expressway will feature 16 entrances and 17 exits, providing connectivity to several existing expressways such as the Seletar Expressway (SLE) and the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE).
Development Timeline
The project was set in motion on 15 November 2011, when the Singapore government approved the southern section's alignment, which involves constructing a full tunnel to the ECP. However, the construction faced delays, notably after the demolition of Rochor Centre in 2017. Initially planned to commence in 2018 with a completion date of 2025, the timeline was subsequently pushed to 2026 due to additional delays during the groundbreaking ceremony. The COVID-19 pandemic further extended the completion date to 2028.
Related Topics
- Expressways of Singapore
- Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Singapore
- Sustainable Transport Initiatives in Singapore
The North-South Corridor exemplifies Singapore's commitment to bolstering its infrastructure while balancing modern transportation needs with environmental considerations.