ST : LTA assures residents about noise

04 Feb 2011,
PLANNED NORTH-SOUTH EXPRESSWAY

LTA assures residents about noise

MP says it will look into various ways to cut noise from expressway
By Goh Chin Lian

RESIDENTS from three condominiums next to the planned North-South Expressway (NSE) have been assured by the authorities that the noise will conform to environmental standards for traffic.

To cut the noise, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will consider putting in screens to deflect traffic noise away from homes and into a 'semi-tunnel' stretch of the expressway, among other measures.



Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Lee Bee Wah, whose ward includes Bullion Park, Castle Green and Nuovo condominiums, gave this update to The Straits Times after a dialogue last week involving about 80 residents and representatives from the LTA and the Singapore Land Authority.

Construction work is expected to start in two years. The project, costing $7 billion to $8 billion, will link northern Singapore to the city and is expected to be ready by 2020.

It will have the longest viaduct as well as surface road, 'open' or semi-tunnels and tunnels. It is expected to cut travelling time from Woodlands to the city by 30 per cent at peak hours and ease congestion on the Central Expressway. Its 15.9km northern section from Admiralty Road West to Toa Payoh Rise was announced on Jan 19.

After the Jan 26 dialogue, Ms Lee announced via Facebook that the LTA had given the assurance that the noise level would not exceed 67 decibels when the expressway is open.

An LTA spokesman confirmed that the NSE would have to comply with the National Environment Agency's standards for road traffic noise, capped at 67 decibels.

Ms Lee said the LTA would also plant a row of trees along the 'open' tunnel section to soften the view of the highway, and consider using porous asphalt on the road to reduce traffic noise.

The LTA said it will do a detailed study and implement suitable measures to meet the NEA noise standard.

'LTA is committed to doing all we can to minimise the impact of NSE on residents,' it said.

Along with other government agencies, it has been working with advisers and grassroots leaders to hold dialogues with residents, businesses, property owners and community leaders to take questions and clarify doubts on the NSE.

'These dialogues will continue as part of LTA's regular engagement to provide information to our stakeholders on our road and rail infrastructure projects,' it added.

On her part, Ms Lee said she had sent every household in the three affected condominiums an LTA information sheet on the NSE in a question and answer format.

She has also formed a working committee of representatives from the three condominiums to engage the LTA during the design and construction of the NSE.

Over at Chong Pang ward, where an 8.8km viaduct will pass several Housing Board blocks, the MP, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, said he has met some residents and was looking into the issues raised.

Residents have also contacted the LTA themselves asking for more information about the work near their homes.

Those living at Nuovo, along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, have been signing a petition since Monday for the 'open' tunnel section next to the executive condominium to be made a covered tunnel instead.

About half the owners of the 297-unit development have signed the petition, which will be given to the authorities, said management committee chairman Dennis Toh, 40.

Resident Cheong Choon Ghee, 40, an engineer, said people living there were concerned that screens would have only limited effect in reducing noise.

He said many had young children and aged parents and were also concerned about the air quality after the expressway opens.

According to the LTA information sheet distributed by Ms Lee, making the whole of NSE south of the Seletar Expressway a tunnel would require six large ventilation buildings. These are needed to suck in fresh air and blow out foul air from the tunnel.

These would have to be built close to the tunnel at intervals, and each would need about 15,000 sq m of land and be taller than surrounding buildings to meet minimum emission height requirements, it said.�Given competing land uses, the LTA could identify only five suitable sites.

It said: 'As a result, LTA had to design the sections of the NSE between the SLE and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9, and between Sin Ming Avenue and north of Pemimpin Place, as semi-tunnels for natural ventilation.'

Nuovo's Mr Toh reckoned the residents' petition would entail stretching the full tunnel northwards by about another 800m.

He said: 'The question is whether this will warrant another ventilation building. If not, then it is feasible to stretch the full tunnel without too much additional cost or acquisition of land.'

chinlian@sph.com.sg