Trump-Kim summit: Expect road closures and security checks

Security measures kick in as early as today, with likely travel delays around event areas

Roads around Shangri-La Hotel, such as Anderson Road and Orange Grove Road, will also be affected by road closures and security checks. ST PHOTO: KELVIN LIM

Motorists and commuters will be affected by road closures and security checks in the Tanglin area and on Sentosa in the lead-up to and during the historic summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday.

Security arrangements for traffic will kick in as early as today, and there could be traffic delays in roads surrounding the "special event areas", the Singapore Police Force and Land Transport Authority said in a news release yesterday.

The meeting will take place at the Capella Singapore on Sentosa at 9am on Tuesday.

The affected roads include areas around The St Regis Singapore hotel such as Tanglin Road, Tom-linson Road and Cuscaden Road, which will be closed from today to Thursday.

Roads around Shangri-La Hotel, such as Anderson Road and Orange Grove Road, will also be affected by road closures and security checks from tomorrow to Thursday.

Commercial vehicles will be prevented from entering Anderson Road and are advised to use Ardmore Park via Draycott Drive or Draycott Park.

While St Regis and Shangri-La would not confirm their involvement in the summit, the hotels are heavily tipped to be playing host to Mr Kim, who is Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, and Mr Trump, respectively.

Bus services that usually pass through Tomlinson Road and the Tanglin area will be affected as some roads and bus stops will be closed from today to Thursday.

Being designated a "special event area" means there will be restrictions to certain activities. People and vehicles which enter the area will face strict security measures and may be subject to spot checks, including bag and body checks.

A "special zone", where checks will be even stricter, has also been marked within each area.

Over on Sentosa, visitors, including those entering by cable car, can expect bag searches and other security checks on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the beefed-up measures, the police and Sentosa Development Corporation said in a separate joint statement yesterday.

The whole island and the waters off its south-west beaches have been declared a "special event area" during the summit.

Existing gantry lanes on the Sentosa Gateway may also be diverted for random security checks.

However, transportation modes and services, including shuttle buses, the Sentosa Express and cable car into the island, will remain operational. Vehicles and pedestrians can also continue to access the island through the Sentosa Gateway and boardwalk.

Except for the compound within Capella Singapore, Sentosa will remain accessible and business will continue as usual between tomorrow and Thursday.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 09, 2018, with the headline Trump-Kim summit: Expect road closures and security checks. Subscribe