Morning peak hour traffic on the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) and its surrounding areas was smooth on Tuesday, a far cry from the gridlock on Monday morning that extended past lunchtime. Monday was the second day the MCE was open and the first workday it was open to traffic.

Traffic on the MCE exits and roads towards Central Boulevard - a major choke point on Monday - was relatively light when The Straits Times visited the area at around 9am. The flow was heavier at one stretch of the tunnel due to an accident that affected two lanes.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday converted a short stretch of Central Boulevard along the Marina Bay Financial Centre to four lanes, up from two previously. This helped to remove a key cause of congestion in the area. Traffic was also smooth along the westbound East Coast Parkway, which was jammed up on Monday.

The improved situation could also be due to motorists becoming more familiar with the new traffic arrangements, and some opting to take alternative routes to their destination. Others may have taken a day off from work given that it is New Year's Eve.