SINGAPORE - Pedestrians and cyclists can cheer when Bencoolen Street re-opens next year. It will boast a "car-lite" design with wider footpaths and dedicated cycling paths, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday (Nov 10).
According to the LTA, pedestrians can look forward to tree-lined footpaths and a sheltered walkway between the upcoming Bencoolen MRT station and nearby developments like Manulife Centre.
Cyclists can expect 125 bicycle parking spaces and will also have a dedicated path along the street that is set to connect Rochor Canal and the planned North-South Corridor route to the Central Business District.
Bencoolen Street is currently closed with construction underway for the Downtown Line's Bencoolen MRT station, but is set to re-open in the first quarter of 2017.
Motorists should expect some traffic adjustments in the process, the LTA said. The stretch of Bencoolen Street between Middle Road and Bras Basah Road re-opens on Sunday (Nov 13).
From Sunday onwards, only buses will be able to turn left from Bencoolen Street onto Bras Basah Road. Waterloo Street will become a two-way street and the traffic direction for Queen Street will be converted towards Bras Basah Road.
A dedicated bus lane opens in Bencoolen Street on Dec 11, which is also when the stretch of Prinsep Street and Selegie Road between Bras Basah Road and Middle Road will become a one-way street.
