The central section of the railway corridor reopens with new features for better accessibility

SINGAPORE: A central stretch of the rail corridor officially reopened on Monday (March 22), with restored landmark bridges and features like new entry points and a pedestrian underpass.

Improvement works along the 4 km stretch, which runs between the Hillview and King Albert Park MRT stations on the Downtown line, make the area more inclusive and accessible, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the National Parks Board (NParks) in a press release. .

It is part of the 24 km long railway corridor, a former railway line that runs from Woodlands in the north to Tanjong Pagar in the south.

Improvement work for the section started in 2019, while public consultations on land use started as early as 2011 after Malaysia returned the land to Singapore.

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BETTER ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY

Speaking at an event to mark the reopening, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said authorities drew up plans for the area after thoroughly studying the comments.

He noted that some people had expressed concern about cutting their way “through uneven slopes, informal trails and overgrown vegetation” to reach the corridor.

“Some also commented that after heavy downpours, certain sections would become muddy and flooded,” he said.

To improve this, there are now eight new or improved entry points along the stretch.

One such entry point is the Upper Bukit Timah truss bridge near the Rail Mall. Visitors used to have to climb a “very eroded incline” there to get to the rail corridor, URA and NParks said in the statement.

This has been replaced by concrete steps that resemble wooden sleepers on train tracks.

Three of the points also provide barrier-free access for families with strollers and wheelchair users. They are close to Bukit Drive, close to Jalan Anak Bukit and Mayfair Park Estate, and close to Bukit Timah train station.

In addition, the trails have been reinforced with new materials and finishes.

For example, a grass and gravel finish is used in certain areas, making the paths more durable while maintaining a rustic look. The roads are also sloped so that rainwater can drain to the sides.

In more urban areas where residents tend to enter the rail corridor, the trail is finished with a porous earth-colored material.

It allows rainwater to quickly seep into the ground, eliminating the need for nearby drains, while creating “safe and comfortable access” for different users, according to the statement.

Following public comment, a 3.6m wide pedestrian underpass was also created alongside Hindhede Drive.

This improves the safety of pedestrians, who used to have to share the road with motorists.

PRESERVE THE HERITAGE

The four bridges within the (central) rail corridor, including two iconic preserved lattice bridges at Upper Bukit Timah Road and Bukit Timah Road, were also restored and renovated.

Repairing the steel decks on the bridges meant careful removal and reinstallation of track components. The works also consisted of removing old rust and paint, adding new protective layers and sealing gaps, among others.

To make these bridges safer, railings were also introduced.

Additionally, ballast stones were placed back on the ground to form a flat and uniform path on both sides of the tracks, making it more accessible for cyclists, wheelchair users or families with strollers.

During a media preview, CNA observed a handful of cyclists cross these bridges with ease.

The roads also look very similar to what they were before, which was the goal, said Dennis Tan, senior architect at URA.

“It’s important, as we develop the rail corridor … that we also don’t change the look, feel, and character of (it),” he said.

STRENGTHENING OF ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY

Lee added that authorities want the rail corridor to serve as a corridor connecting adjacent green spaces.

Specifically, the (central) rail corridor is close to several other green spaces, such as Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park, and Bukit Batok Nature Park.

“In Singapore, there are many roads that intersect with many wooded areas. The rail corridor is a stretch that has very few intersections and wildlife can move from place to place safely, ”said Ms Sharon Chan, director of the Central Nature Reserve at NParks.

To “regenerate” this part of the corridor, about 1,600 native trees have been planted in this section, the agencies said.

The restoration of this native forest belt will in turn provide “an important passageway, habitat and food source for Singapore’s native fauna,” they added.

To minimize the disturbance of the animals’ night rhythms, there is no night lighting along the trail. Instead, there are reflector posts that double as distance markers for users.

MORE SECTIONS TO COMPLETE

Nature enthusiasts can look forward to more improved sections of the corridor for years to come.

Parts of the trail along the rail corridor (south), which are undergoing improvement, are scheduled to reopen later this month.

This will provide the public with a continuous trail from Rail Mall to Spooner Road.

READ: A Walk on the Wild Side: Singapore’s Upcoming Natural Attractions

Improvement works along the Rail Corridor (north), from Hillview to Woodlands Road, will begin later this year and will be completed in 2022, the agencies said.

Restoration work on the preserved Bukit Timah train station and the train station staff quarters will also be completed in 2022.

These will be reopened as a heritage gallery and food and beverage space, Lee said, adding that there will be opportunities for Singaporeans to participate in shaping these spaces.

He added that when the rail corridor is completed, it will provide Singaporeans with a seamlessly connected corridor that will be part of the island-wide network of recreational routes.

“(These routes) will connect communities and create a sense of space many times beyond our little island-city state,” he said.