Interim carpark to be built near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to address parking woes

SINGAPORE – An interim carpark will be built near the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to alleviate traffic congestion and parking woes that stem from an influx of visitors during peak hours on weekends.

An empty field outside Hindhede Walk will be converted into a carpark with a drop-off shelter, 83 parking spaces, 13 motorcycle spaces and two handicap-accessible spaces, said Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Sim Ann in a letter to residents dated April 18.

Hoarding has been put up around the site, and the carpark is slated to be completed in 12 months from end April.

Ms Sim told The Straits Times that as public parking near the nature reserve entrance is very limited, visitors driving in during peak hours often park illegally or obstructively along the narrow roads in the Hindhede area.

“This makes it hard for our residents living in the neighbourhood to get in and out of the estate,” said Ms Sim. She represents the Bukit Timah ward in the GRC and is also Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs.

The existing carpark has 85 parking spaces, 10 motorcycle spaces and two handicap-accessible spaces.

Ms Sim said she is glad that the National Parks Board (NParks) has accepted the suggestion from her and her volunteers to create more parking spaces. “Now that this area also serves as an entry node to the increasingly popular Rail Corridor, we need to be able to handle higher visitor volumes,” she added.

NParks said the empty field has been set aside for the carpark for an interim period of five years, including construction.

Mr Marcus Kohl, who has lived in the Hindhede area since 2001, said traffic is heaviest on weekends.

The bank auditor, who is an avid hiker, added that he sees a queue of cars waiting to enter the nature reserve carpark when it opens at around 6am.

“The jam will last for maybe one or two hours,” he noted. “Because there are always more people in the mornings streaming in than leaving.”

He said visitors often ignore the double yellow lines to park in Hindhede Place, which has landed homes.

“When people park illegally, it creates a lot of problems for us going out of the house,” he added.

While Mr Kohl welcomes the new carpark, he added that one concern is that visitors may choose not to use it as they would have to walk a longer distance to the nature reserve, unlike the existing carpark which is located next to the entrance.

Another resident, Mr Victor Siow, 61, said traffic congestion in the residential area can last from early morning until 1pm or 2pm on weekends. The traffic picks up again from 4pm to 5pm, when more people turn up at the reserve, he added.

The new carpark will help with the situation, said the businessman. “Rather than leave the land empty, it’ll be good to temporarily let people use it and collect some revenue. It’s been empty for over 20 years now.”

For resident Mary Kozma, a 62-year-old biotech company employee, more parking spaces would simply attract more cars rather than ease congestion.

“If you’re coming to enjoy an outdoor space, then you should be of the mindset that you don’t pollute the place with cars. You come here and walk, that’s the point of coming here,” she said.