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SINGAPORE – The Jurong East Bus Interchange will be moved from December 6 to facilitate the construction of the Jurong Region Line and the Jurong East Integrated Transportation Hub.
The new interchange is located opposite the current interchange, along Jurong Gateway Road between the junctions of Jurong Gateway Road / Jurong East Street 12 and Jurong Gateway Road / Jurong East Central 1.
The relocated interchange will be in operation until the completion of the Jurong East integrated transportation hub around 2027, the Land Transportation Authority said on Wednesday (November 11).
An elevated pedestrian bridge, equipped with elevators and escalators, has been built along Jurong Gateway Road. This protected passage between the bus interchange and the train station is to “ensure that travelers can continue to transfer comfortably between their bus and train trips,” the authority said.
In addition, there will be a new bus stop in front of Jem Mall (along Jurong Gateway Road) to provide travelers with an additional stopping point closer to Jurong East MRT Station.
Two bus stops outside of Block 131 and before the Jurong East MRT station along Jurong Gateway Road have also been expanded to accommodate more commuters and buses.
Full-day bus lanes will be implemented along Jurong Gateway Road.
The LTA said that most bus services will continue to operate directly from the relocated interchange. But adjustments have been made to their routes and stopping points to allow for faster travel and minimize potential congestion in the vicinity of the bus interchange.
Specifically, the 97 / 97e and 197 services will enter the bus interchange via Jurong East Street 12 and Jurong Gateway Road, while the 333 service will enter via Boon Lay Way and Jurong Gateway Road.
The following services will now also start and end their operations outside the exchange:
– Service 78 will start at the bus stop outside Block 131 and end at the bus stop before the Jurong East MRT station in the return direction, without calling the bus interchange.
– Service 79 will not stop at the bus junction, but will run through Jurong East city center via Jurong East Street 12, Jurong Gateway Road, Jurong East Central and Jurong Town Hall Road. Travelers can board this service at the bus stop outside Block 131 or outside the Jurong Regional Library.
– Cross Border 3 and Cross Border 4, which are currently not operational, will be boarded and alighted at a bus pickup and drop-off point on Venture Avenue instead of Jurong East Bus Interchange when services resume
Information on these bus route changes will be available at locations such as affected bus stops, existing and relocated bus interchanges, as well as on the LTA, Tower Transit Singapore and SBS Transit online platforms.
Additional service ambassadors will also be deployed to the bus interchange to provide assistance, the authority added.
The LTA said the relocated interchange will have more spacious boarding points at each of the seven berths and graduated curb edges to make it easier for passengers in wheelchairs to board.
A bus berth availability system will also be installed near the bus parking lot, which will indicate to bus drivers when their berths are available. This will mitigate the risk of congestion within the smaller swap space.
In addition, high-volume, low-speed fans have also been installed in the lobby area.
There will also be more facilities to accommodate the needs of the elderly, less mobile, and families with young children, including four barrier-free rest areas, priority waiting areas with seating, a nurse’s room, and barrier-free bathrooms.
There will be 64 bicycle parking spaces.
The interchange will also feature upgraded facilities for public transportation workers, such as an air-conditioned staff canteen, dedicated staff restrooms and a staff lounge.
The LTA said: “We seek the understanding of commuters as our bus operators become more familiar with the new environment. The above changes are necessary to ensure safety and avoid congestion within the new bus interchange and surrounding areas. LTA will monitor the situation closely and make adjustments to the arrangements when necessary. “
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