Liat Towers' pop-up flood barrier ready
By Victoria Vaughan
Finishing touches were carried out on the barrier outside Liat Towers on Friday to ensure it lies flat against the pavement when not in use. When activated, it will form a 36m-long and 90cm-tall wall against flood waters. -- ST PHOTO: RAJ NADARAJAN
The pop-up anti-flood barrier at Liat Towers is now 'push-button'ready. The shopping mall was one of the worst-hit in the Orchard Road floods earlier this year.
On Friday, the mall's security staff were handed the keys to activate the barrier, a first for Singapore, in the event of a heavy flood.
When set in motion, flaps like those on an airplane wing will rise until vertical - and form a 36m-long and 90cm-tall sealed barrier against flood waters. The project cost the building management about $200,000.
Finishing touches were carried out on Friday to ensure that the barrier, when lowered, is flat against the pavement so as not to cause shoppers to trip.
This is the first time that the flood control method is being used in Singapore, said Parafoil Design and Engineering, the company that designed it.
Mr Chik Hai Lam, a supervisor at Goldvein, which owns Liat Towers, said: 'The barrier should do its work, and there shouldn't be any more flooding. We have tested it since Wednesday, and when it is raised, the seal between the panels is quite tight and they are well aligned.'
Tong Building, Lucky Plaza and Delfi Orchard were also affected during the Orchard Road floods.
A Lucky Plaza spokesman told The Sunday Times that it has engaged consultants to help further improve the drainage system to handle flood waters.
The management 'is now in the process of discussing with consultants the PUB's recommendation of installing flood barriers', said the spokesman, who declined to reveal further details.
No one from Tong Building was available for comment, but some tenants said that there has been talk of installing barriers. Physiotherapist Samuel Kan, who works at Bodyworks Studio there, said: 'Now when it rains, the management will send someone down to the carpark to monitor the water levels.'
Delfi Orchard declined to comment. Some tenants there said they have yet to receive any notice of flood prevention measures.
PUB, the national water agency, has awarded a tender to raise Orchard Road by an average of 30cm. Work will start in the last week of the month and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of next year. While most retailers welcome the move, some question if it would suffice.
Miss Goh Wee Ling, spokesman for fast-food chain Wendy's, a basement tenant at Liat Towers, said: 'Our outlet is in a sunken area. Logic dictates that the water will flow down. How will raising the road prevent this?'
Her concerns were echoed by others, like Miss Mindy Ong, supervisor for Sinma at the basement of Lucky Plaza: 'We are not sure if raising Orchard Road will affect the shops along this stretch.
'If it rains heavily, we watch the road and move things off the floor if we need to.'
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