THE new chief of Sentosa said the resort island is evaluating its transport network to make sure it can handle the hordes of visitors expected to accompany the opening of its integrated resort in 2010.

Mr Mike Barclay said the island's cable cars, buses, skytrains and roads would be examined to ensure they can accommodate up to 15 million people a year.

He said: 'The opening of the IR wil bring many challenges for areas like infrastructure. We must make sure we can handle the capacity.'

Mr Barclay, who became Sentosa's chief last month, was speaking for the first time about his outlook for island. Along with re-evaluating the transport grid, Mr Barclay hopes to create a new 10-year masterplan and see several new beach attractions open next year.

When it opens in the first quarter of 2010, Resorts World at Sentosa is expected to more than double the six million people who visit the area annually. It will include attractions like Asia's first Universal Studio and a Marine Life Park with whale sharks.

Two weeks into the job, the 41-year-old said he is unable to give more concrete plans on what he intends to do. He took over the mantle from his predecessor Darrell Metzger who quit last April.

However, Mr Barclay said he wants to 'enrich a very good model that we have here'.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.