New vehicular underpass linking KPE to Nicoll Highway to open on April 2

The new two-lane underpass whic will form a wide arc under the Mountbatten and Guillemard junction (left), allowing traffic from the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) and Sims Way to get to Nicoll Highway directly.

A new vehicular underpass which will seamlessly connect motorists from the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) to Nicoll Highway will open on April 2.

This is expected to ease the traffic congestion experienced at the KPE’s Nicoll Highway exit, where motorists often find themselves caught at the lights soon after leaving the underground highway.

Announcing the opening date of the two-lane, 300m underpass, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Tuesday (March 14) that motorists can also use it to connect to Stadium Drive from the KPE.

Those coming from Sims Way can take advantage of the underpass to head to Nicoll Highway or Stadium Drive as well.

With the new underpass, the right turn from Sims Way to Nicoll Highway at the traffic junction will be removed, the LTA said.

The underpass cost $45 million to build, with construction starting in 2012 and being completed in December 2016.

However, its opening was held back to find a suitable window, to minimise disruption to motorists. The LTA said in February that it was working closely with stakeholders in the area, such as the Singapore Sports Hub, to find a suitable date.

When the new underpass opens, the existing access along Nicoll Highway (City Bound) to Stadium Drive will be permanently closed.

Motorists travelling from Guillemard Road should instead use Stadium Boulevard via Mountbatten Road to access Stadium Drive and Singapore Sports Hub, the LTA added.

The LTA has advised motorists to “plan their routes in advance and follow the traffic signs on site to help them navigate to their destinations”.

The authority has also produced a series of four videos showing the different routes to take. The videos can be found at www.youtube.com/LTAsingapore.

Motorists can access the new road from 6am on April 2.