FOR OVER 21/2 years, wheelchair-bound Mr Wong Hok Chit has had to push himself an extra eight minutes from his home to the nearest road to get a taxi.

Like residents around Old Airport Road, he has lived with the inconveniences of the road's closure, including putting up with noise and dust from construction outside his window which kept him up at night.

The stretch of Old Airport Road between Cassia Link and Guillemard Camp Road was sealed off in March 2006 for the building of the MRT Circle Line's Dakota Station underneath the road.

Mr Wong is only too relieved now that the road will be open once more to traffic from 5am tomorrow.

'I'm really happy because it will take me only two minutes to get to where I can hail a cab,' said the 33-year-old odd-job worker with the Society for the Physically Disabled.

Yesterday, residents celebrated with a street party to commemorate the reopening of the road.

They were treated to line-dancing, performances and kiddie rides.

A Marine Parade GRC MP and guest-of-honour, Mr Lim Biow Chuan, said residents and businesses, such as a popular hawker centre and market there, have been affected by the road closure.

Four blocks - Blocks 60, 62, 95 and 99 - were directly affected.

Bus services were also diverted from Old Airport Road onto Cassia Link, Guillemard Road and Guillemard Camp Road.

'We put in a temporary carpark at the market to assist customers, but some stalls were still affected. Now, business should return to normal,' said Mr Lim.

While work on the station has not yet ended, it will now continue underground.

Mr Lim said he is considering having more shops built along the road to make the area more vibrant.

The Land Transport Authority's deputy chief executive, Mr Lim Bok Ngam, said residents did complain about construction noise and extra travelling time, but they have mostly been understanding.

'They know that it will bring them greater convenience in the long run,' he said.

Retiree Veronica Er, 61, summed it up: 'When there was construction, it was inconvenient. But once the road opens, I will be able to travel anywhere from my doorstep.'

shulis@sph.com.sg