Central stretch of Rail Corridor reopens with new features for better accessibility
SINGAPORE: A central stretch of the Runway Corridor officially reopened on Monday (Mar 22), featuring restored landmark bridges and elements such as new entry points and a pedestrian underpass.
The enhancement works along the 4km stretch – which runs between Hillview and King Albert Park MRT stations on the Downtown Line – make the area more inclusive and accessible, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Parks Lath (NParks) in a media release.
It is part of the 24km-long Rail Corridor, a former railway line that runs from Woodlands in the n to Tanjong Pagar in the south.
Enhancement works for the department began in 2019, while public consultations on land apply began as early on every bit 2022 after Malaysia returned the state to Singapore.
READ: Work begins to restore Runway Corridor's native flora
Improve ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY
Speaking at an event to mark the reopening, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said authorities crafted plans for the surface area afterward thoroughly studying feedback.
He noted that some people had expressed concerns about making their way "across uneven slopes, informal paths and overgrown vegetation" to get to the corridor.
"Some also commented that afterwards heavy downpours, certain stretches would become muddy and waterlogged," he said.
To improve this, there are now eight new or improved entry points along the stretch.
1 such entry point is the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge near Rail Mall. Visitors used to accept to climb a "badly eroded gradient" at that place to reach the Rail Corridor, said URA and NParks in the release.
This has been replaced with concrete steps that resemble timber sleepers on rail tracks.
Three of the points also provide barrier-gratis access for families with prams and wheelchair users. They are virtually Bukit Drive, almost Jalan Anak Bukit and Mayfair Park Estate, and nigh the Bukit Timah Railway Station.
In addition, trails have been strengthened with new materials and finishes.
For example, a grass and gravel end is used in sure areas, making paths more durable while maintaining a rustic await. The paths are too sloped and then rainwater can bleed to the sides.
In more urban areas where residents tend to enter the Rail Corridor, the trail is finished with an earth-coloured porous material.
It allows rainwater to quickly seep into the footing, eliminating the demand for drains nearby, while creating "rubber and comfy access" for different users, the release said.
Following public feedback, a 3.6m-wide pedestrian underpass was too created next to Hindhede Drive.
This enhances safe for pedestrians, who used to have to share the route with motorists.
PRESERVING HERITAGE
The iv bridges within the Rail Corridor (Central) – including two iconic conserved truss bridges at Upper Bukit Timah Road and Bukit Timah Road – were also restored and refurbished.
Repairing the bridges' steel decks meant having to advisedly remove and reinstall the tracks' components. Works also involved removing old rust and paint, adding new protective layers and sealing gaps, amid others.
To make these bridges safer, railings were as well introduced.
In improver, ballast stones on the ground were re-laid to form a apartment, even path on both sides of the tracks, making information technology more attainable for cyclists, wheelchair users or families with prams.
During a media preview, CNA observed a handful of cyclists crossing these bridges with ease.
The paths also await very similar to what they were earlier – which was the goal, said Mr Dennis Tan, a senior architect from URA.
"It is of import, as we develop the Rail Corridor … that we also don't change the look, feel and graphic symbol of (it)," he said.
STRENGTHENING ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY
Mr Lee added that the authorities desire the Rail Corridor to serve equally a corridor that connects next green spaces.
Specifically, the Runway Corridor (Central) is about several other green spaces, such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park and Bukit Batok Nature Park.
"In Singapore, in that location are many roads that intersect a lot of forested areas. The Rail Corridor is one stretch that has very lilliputian intersections and wildlife can move from i place to another place safely," said Ms Sharon Chan, director of the Cardinal Nature Reserve at NParks.
To "rewild" this part of the corridor, about 1,600 native trees accept been planted in this section, the agencies said.
Restoring this belt of native wood volition in plough provide "an important passage, habitat and source of nutrient for Singapore's native fauna", they added.
To minimise disturbance to animals' nocturnal rhythms, at that place is no night lighting along the trail. Instead, there are reflector poles that double up as distance markers for users.
MORE SECTIONS TO BE COMPLETED
Nature enthusiasts tin can look frontwards to more than enhanced sections of the corridor in the coming years.
Parts of the trail along Rails Corridor (South), which are undergoing comeback works, are slated to reopen past the end of this month.
This volition provide the public with a continuous trail from Rails Mall to Spooner Road.
READ: A walk on the wild side: Singapore'southward upcoming nature attractions
Improvement works along Rail Corridor (Due north) – from Hillview to Woodlands Road – will start later this year, and are due to be completed by 2022, the agencies said.
Restoration works on the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station and the Railway Station Staff Quarters will besides be completed in 2022.
These will be reopened equally a heritage gallery and nutrient and drink infinite, said Mr Lee, calculation that in that location volition be opportunities for Singaporeans to be involved in shaping these spaces.
He added that when the Track Corridor is completed, information technology will provide Singaporeans with a seamless, connected corridor that will be office of the islandwide network of recreational routes.
"(These routes) will connect communities and bring about a sense of infinite many times across our small isle-city state," he said.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/rail-corridor-central-reopens-new-entry-points-bridge-180116
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