SINGAPORE - Sections of the Ulu Pandan Park Connector in Ghim Moh were closed on Sunday morning after water levels in the Ulu Pandan Canal almost reached the level of the park connector.

Flash flood warnings issued by national water agency PUB at 9.50am said that the water level in the canal was at 90 per cent capacity.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, NParks said it had closed sections of the park connector from Clementi Road to Commonwealth Avenue West near Ghim Moh Road at about 8am owing to the potential flood risks.

“These sections were reopened when the rain eased close to noon,” it said.

Separately, a statement on NParks’ website said: “NParks and PUB will closely monitor the water level and will close the park connector when necessary.”

The canal had a 3.5m-wide channel carved out of it on Sept 3, after soil was displaced into it following a landslide the previous day. ST understands that the channel has since been expanded and now spans 10m wide.

With Singapore forecast to experience rainy weather in the coming weeks, the channel would help to mitigate flood risks upstream by allowing water to flow through the canal.

Construction efforts to repair the damage caused by the landslide are estimated to take a few months, with a section of the park connector – stretching from Commonwealth Avenue West flyover to Clementi Road – remaining closed to the public.

Two weeks ago, the Housing Board said in an update that it would install sheet piles along the affected stretch of the park connector to reinforce and further stabilise the slope.

These works are projected to take at least a month, before main recovery and construction efforts can begin.

The recovery work includes removing the dislodged soil in the canal, reinstating the damaged part of the park connector, and reconstructing the slope and retaining walls within the site.