Singapore's only right-turn expressway exit on PIE to make way for new underpass later this year

[kobayashiGT]

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/singapores-only-right-turn-expressway-exit-along-pie-will-make-way-for-new-underpass-later-this-year

SINGAPORE - Some time in the second half of this year, motorists on the westbound Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) turning off to Clementi Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road will use a left exit instead of one on the right.

The right Exit 26A - the only right turn in Singapore's expressway network - will be removed to improve safety, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said.

When completed, the new Exit 26A will lead motorists to a depressed ramp on the left, which will loop around to the right to an underpass going underneath the PIE.

The project - undertaken by Megastone Holdings for $32.7 million - is in an advanced stage of completion. The builder has excavated part of the underpass, and that stretch of the PIE has recently reverted to its original alignment.

A temporary diversion on the left - built in July 2019 - has been closed off, and will be removed once works are completed.

An LTA spokesman said that because of a manpower crunch brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the project, which was supposed to be completed last year, is now slated to be finished by the end of this year.

He added that the terrain also posed challenges to the construction process. For instance, the builder had to excavate beneath an existing expressway, digging through hard granite.

"The ground below is made up of granite rock outcrop, commonly referred to as Bukit Timah Granite," the spokesman said, referring to a rock formation spanning the central and northern areas of Singapore.

The granite had to be removed in stages through controlled rock blasting. Blasting had to be carefully calibrated because of the proximity of a "live" expressway and housing estates.

Work to construct the remaining vehicular underpass - a one-lane road - has begun, LTA added.

The authority had previously said that the move to replace the solitary right exit was prompted by a regular review of the road network, as well as feedback from road users.

With the current right exit, goods vehicles - which are supposed to stay in the left lane  - have to filter across several lanes if the drivers want to get to Exit 26A. Besides safety concerns, the LTA said, this slows down traffic flow.

Mr Bernard Tay, chairman of the Singapore Road Safety Council, said the council welcomes the initiative to remove the right-hand PIE exit.

"It's a good move... as usually, the extreme right lane is for overtaking vehicles," Mr Tay said. "By removing the exit, we will avoid situations where fast-moving vehicles have to slow down to give way to vehicles intending make a right-turn exit."

Transport consultant Gopinath Menon, a retired LTA planner, said it is “unorthodox” to have an exit on the right lane of an expressway.

“But with proper advance warning signs, the system has fared satisfactorily for close to 40 years, though unfamiliar drivers may face some difficulty. The slower goods vehicles will also have to change from the left to the right lane to exit, which can be difficult during rush hours.”

Hence, moving the exit to the left is “desirable”, Mr Menon added.

  Quote

Ten years later, when I have my own kid, I can tell the young padawan that I have right turn in PIE before hor. 😂

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[13177]

This right turn exit on PIE has been there dont know for how many decades liao, heard they want to change the exit to left side also very long liao, until now still havent materialize yet? Have to wait until 2nd half of the year. Lol.

[Wormee]

Finally! After so many years of talk and many counts of accidents. 

Hope we won't see those mangkoks trying to do last minute stunt again by cutting across 4 lanes and ram into railings, fly down to the depressed ramp instead of exiting left. 

[Wormee]

  On 1/31/2022 at 2:02 AM, 13177 said:

This right turn exit on PIE has been there dont know for how many decades liao, heard they want to change the exit to left side also very long liao, until now still havent materialize yet? Have to wait until 2nd half of the year. Lol.

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COVID-19 ma. Even the TPE (towards PIE/ECP) one also dunno how many years liao. Manpower crunch, chip shortage, so heng ah, we will get the ugly OBU 2 years later instead of now. 

[13177]

  On 1/31/2022 at 2:27 AM, Wormee said:

COVID-19 ma. Even the TPE (towards PIE/ECP) one also dunno how many years liao. Manpower crunch, chip shortage, so heng ah, we will get the ugly OBU 2 years later instead of now. 

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Aiya, covid is just an excuse la. This right turn exit change to left turn exit have been talk for at least a decade ago liao? 😂

[13177]

  On 1/31/2022 at 2:12 AM, Wormee said:

Finally! After so many years of talk and many counts of accidents. 

Hope we won't see those mangkoks trying to do last minute stunt again by cutting across 4 lanes and ram into railings, fly down to the depressed ramp instead of exiting left. 

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Wait they do a last min stunt cutting across 4 lanes to make a right turn exit, then notice the exit changed to left side liao, and then do a last min stunt across 4 lanes again to make a left turn!? 😅

[Volvobrick]

  On 1/31/2022 at 2:02 AM, 13177 said:

This right turn exit on PIE has been there dont know for how many decades liao, heard they want to change the exit to left side also very long liao, until now still havent materialize yet? Have to wait until 2nd half of the year. Lol.

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Actually when they expanded the flyover (1 lane each direction), they should have taken the opportunity to rebuild the flyover (towards Tuas) taller and the slip road could have gone under the flyover. 

Maybe they chose to have 2 separate projects to increase GDP. 

 

Or no foresight. 

[Phluvcat]

Goodness I have to pass by this stretch everyday...its a great excuse and somewhat valid at times for slow pokes to hog the 1st lanes while the lorries occupy the other lanes. 

Then you tahan tahan tahan until the right turning ones clear the 1st lane into the right filter, and there you go more slow pokes going straight! 🤭😬

[13177]

  On 1/31/2022 at 3:17 AM, Volvobrick said:

Actually when they expanded the flyover (1 lane each direction), they should have taken the opportunity to rebuild the flyover (towards Tuas) taller and the slip road could have gone under the flyover. 

Maybe they chose to have 2 separate projects to increase GDP. 

 

Or no foresight. 

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As usual no foresight one la. Lol.

[Volvobrick]

  On 1/31/2022 at 3:18 AM, Phluvcat said:

Goodness I have to pass by this stretch everyday...its a great excuse and somewhat valid at times for slow pokes to hog the 1st lanes while the lorries occupy the other lanes. 

Then you tahan tahan tahan until the right turning ones clear the 1st lane into the right filter, and there you go more slow pokes going straight! 🤭😬

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I bet my ang pow money there will still be many slow pokes in Lane 1 there. Going straight towards Tuas.... 😆

[13177]

  On 1/31/2022 at 3:18 AM, Phluvcat said:

Goodness I have to pass by this stretch everyday...its a great excuse and somewhat valid at times for slow pokes to hog the 1st lanes while the lorries occupy the other lanes. 

Then you tahan tahan tahan until the right turning ones clear the 1st lane into the right filter, and there you go more slow pokes going straight! 🤭😬

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I think there is some public buses need to right turn at this exit, and saw the bus crawling slowly on lane 1 while still quite a distance away from the exit, and all the traffic becomes slow and many cars from lane 1 overtake these commercial vehicles. 😅

[Phluvcat]

  On 1/31/2022 at 3:33 AM, 13177 said:

I think there is some public buses need to right turn at this exit, and saw the bus crawling slowly on lane 1 while still quite a distance away from the exit, and all the traffic becomes slow and many cars from lane 1 overtake these commercial vehicles. 😅

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Yes got bus service using that slip road. 

The part of the road here is curved, so any lane changes gotta be done very carefully. 

[Phluvcat]

  On 1/31/2022 at 3:33 AM, Volvobrick said:

I bet my ang pow money there will still be many slow pokes in Lane 1 there. Going straight towards Tuas.... 😆

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Ya... and last minute wanna exit to Bukit Batok also have 😬

[Confusedboi]

i live near this area and after the right exit is the infamous bend where many accidents have occurred whereby your car tyres may lift off the ground very slightly especially if you’re on lane 1. 

[13177]

  On 1/31/2022 at 3:37 AM, Phluvcat said:

Yes got bus service using that slip road. 

The part of the road here is curved, so any lane changes gotta be done very carefully. 

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Ya, i dont like this stretch of road, find it quite dangerous. So i avoid using this road if possible and use alternative road to get to my destination.

[13177]

  On 1/31/2022 at 3:38 AM, Phluvcat said:

Ya... and last minute wanna exit to Bukit Batok also have 😬

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Common to see cars last min wanna exit along the expressway, so very dangerous lo. Just yesterday i saw one car on the left lane initially, then suddenly changed to lane 2 and barely within 2 sec and then changed back to left lane to make an exit! 

[Beanoyip]

About time its been done..

[Kklim]

Hope it doesn't become an accident hotspot like CTE exit to TPE