ERP charges may resume in Orchard Road if congestion in the area worsens: LTA

SINGAPORE – Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) operations may return to the Orchard Road area if congestion in the shopping district worsens, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement on May 25.

LTA said it has been closely monitoring traffic conditions and is considering reinstating ERP operations in the Orchard Road area, which has been unpriced since April 2020.

Speeds within Orchard Road have persistently remained below optimal since October 2025, LTA said, adding that if road congestion deteriorates further in the next quarter, ERP operations for the area will resume.

This is the second time in recent months that LTA has flagged traffic in the Orchard area as being slower than the optimal speed range, which is between 20kmh and 30kmh for arterial roads.

The last time it mentioned this was in March.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, LTA said its data showed that traffic speeds in Orchard have been persistently below optimal levels on weekdays and Saturdays, particularly along the Orchard Link and Bideford Road corridor.

“Should traffic speeds continue to persist below 20kmh for a sustained period, LTA will reactivate the Orchard cordon as needed.”

In its statement on May 25, LTA also announced that motorists can enjoy discounted ERP rates at six locations during the school holidays from June 2 to June 28.

The six locations are:

These locations were identified in anticipation of lower traffic demand during the school holidays, LTA said, adding that the discounted rates will end on June 29.

Meanwhile, ERP rates will be increased by $1 at two locations from June 29, LTA said, adding that the hike is to manage congestion.

LTA said that based on its monitoring of traffic conditions in April, traffic has built up along various stretches of expressways.

The two locations are:

Motorists are urged to plan their journeys and consider other routes, LTA said.