Move to ease traffic congestion at Sengkang, Punggol to kick in end-September - Channel NewsAsia

Over the past year, residents have complained about the bottleneck in traffic at the Sengkang-Punggol exit, which was the result of two bus lanes that opened in 2014. 

SINGAPORE: From end September, drivers entering Sengkang and Punggol towns from Tampines Expressway (TPE) can enjoy smooth travel, even during peak hours, according to the Pasir Ris-Punggol and Punggol East Grassroots Organisations and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday (Aug 28).

Over the past year, residents have complained about the bottleneck in traffic at the Sengkang-Punggol exit, which was the result of two bus lanes that opened in 2014. The bus lanes serve two bus stops and 11 bus services, while motorists currently travel on the other two lanes.

The bottleneck issue was brought up to the Chairperson of the Public Transport and Traffic Committee for Punggol North Loke Choon Wai, and Chairman of the Punggol East Citizens' Consultative Committee Raymond Lye.

"When the bus stop opened in August last year, I think what became apparent very soon was that the traffic flow changed, because there were two dedicated bus lanes and there were two car lanes," said Mr Lye. "So when the bus stop opened, I think the bus users were very happy because the bus stop was generally clear all the time for the buses, so the buses had a very smooth journey.

"But for the car owners, they realised that the traffic flow became worse. Jams started to build up, and during peak periods the jam could go all the way back to the KPE exit into the TPE." 

Mr Lye went on to explain that they had received feedback that the bus lanes were sometimes relatively empty while motorists faced congestion in the other two lanes during peak hour.

“I think some of the car owners got a little bit frustrated when they were caught in the jam, and they started driving into the bus lane,” he said, adding that when there appeared to be more unhappiness when traffic enforcers took photos of motorists who drove through the bus lanes.

“It's like, 'look, the car lanes are congested, the bus lanes are empty, so when I use the bus lanes, I'm not causing any congestion for the buses, so why are you doing this?'” said Mr Lye. 

After months of discussions with the LTA, motorists will be able to travel on the outer bus lane, although they must still give way to buses when on this lane. The lane will feature a second Mandatory Give-Way To Bus road marking.

This will benefit buses exiting the first bus stop at the exit, before they continue straight on to TPE or turn right towards Punggol Town. It is expected to ease traffic congestion, and ensure commuters can continue enjoying smooth rides while travelling on public transport.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Vice Chairman of Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council Janil Puthucheary, who lobbied for the enhancements to improve traffic at the exit, welcomed the approval of the proposed solution.

"This new bus lane enhancement is actually quite useful, because it gives the bus the right and also a path that is clear to bring our residents home," said Mr Teo.

- CNA/kk/ek

• By Liyana Othman
• POSTED: 28 Aug 2015 16:12
 
• UPDATED: 28 Aug 2015 23:37
• Source: Channel NewsAsia

Great hangouts in Sengkang - AsiaOne

SINGAPORE - Has anyone ever said to you that Sengkang is "ulu" (Malay for remote or out-of-the-way) and boring when you told them that you live there?

Well, the next time someone tells you that, you can inform him politely that he's very wrong, and prove it to him by taking him to these few places:

Sengkang Swimming Complex

It used to be that to play on water slides in Singapore, one had to visit a resort or amusement park - cue memories of Wild Wild Wet at Pasir Ris, Fantasy Island in Sentosa and Big Splash at East Coast Park (for the older folks).

Now, all you have to do is head over to Sengkang Swimming Complex.

With five pools - including a jacuzzi pool and a 50m sheltered pool - and eight slides, it is a resort unto itself. Younger children can play in the fun pool, where a bucket full of water empties itself onto the kids every few minutes!

This public swimming complex is a part of the larger Sengkang Sports Centre. Admission cost is just $2 for adults and $1 for children on weekends.

Sengkang Riverside Park

Next to the Sengkang Sports Centre is the sprawling Sengkang Riverside Park. At 21ha, the park is about the size of 28 football fields put together.

This pocket of calm and tranquillity in busy Singapore even has a constructed wetland. There are many trails here to let visitors view and learn about the marshes and fruit trees.

Visitors can cycle with the family or take a leisurely stroll. Nature lovers can indulge in some bird-watching, while photography enthusiasts can snap photos of the constructed wetlands.

Sengkang Floating Wetland

The PUB Sengkang Floating Wetland in Punggol Reservoir is located within Sengkang Riverside Park and connects the park to the Sengkang Sports Centre.

This is a project by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to improve water quality and to give birds and fishes a natural habitat.

There are boardwalks that allow visitors to get close to and learn about nature. Information panels make the boardwalk an educational trip for both adults and young ones.

Kite-flying spaces

If you're in the mood to take flight, there are a few open spaces in Sengkang where you can indulge your kite-flying hobby, or let the kids run free.

Sengkang Riverside Park comes to mind readily, though you'll have to watch out not to step into the constructed wetland. Near to the park, the open space opposite the Farmway LRT station is favoured by many kite-flyers.

The green space bounded by Sengkang East Avenue, Anchorvale Lane and the Punggol Park Connector is actually designated a "kite-flying area", according to certain online maps.

Alternatively, head to the open space bounded by Sengkang West Road, Sengkang West Avenue and Fernvale Lane. Here, you can also see some football enthusiasts enjoying their sport on certain evenings.

Sengkang Fire Station

It's likely that not many people know this, but all fire stations in Singapore - except the one in Jurong Island - are open to the public on Saturday mornings, between 9am and 11am.

The fire station open house helps the public learn more about what the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) does. The children will have a blast clambering into the driver seats of the various SCDF vehicles; and they can try their hands at the equipment that firefighters use during the
demonstration.

Visitors can walk in for the open house, but a booking is required if your group has more than 10 people, SCDF said on its website.

Seletar Mall

When it comes to hanging out, Singaporeans love their malls - and there's a spanking new one right in Sengkang. Seletar Mall, which opened late last year, is next to Fernvale LRT station.

There's a cinema, a department store and shops like Uniqlo. There are also enrichment centres to cater to young families with children.

Apart from the food court, visitors can also find restaurants and cafes like Din Tai Fung, Fish & Co. and Starbucks Coffee.

Greenwich V

A stone's throw away from Fernvale is Greenwich V, at the junction of Yio Chu Kang Road and Seletar Road. The mall exudes more of a laid-back charm, with more outdoor spaces.

Here, you can find cafes like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Toast Box, Cold Stone Creamery and Quiznos Sub, and restaurants serving Thai food, sushi, and many others. There's also a supermarket and children enrichment schools.

Even Rufus is in for a special treat, with a pet-grooming shop in the mall.

Jalan Kayu

For the ultimate laid-back vibe, dine at Jalan Kayu, near the northern part of Fernvale.

For decades, Jalan Kayu has been synonymous with roti prata. Generations of Singaporeans have dined at the prata shops there.

Some of the shops don't seem to have changed at all over the decades, retaining an "old-world" vibe with its decor.

You can probably get good prata elsewhere nowadays, but the ambience here will probably remind you of the time you spent with school or army buddies on a weekend night, enjoying crispy prata and teh tarik.

- See more at: http://web.asia1.com/hilife/great-hangouts-in-sengkang#sthash.0mVniEkF.dpuf

Steven Sin
AsiaOne

Source: AsiaOne

Bumper crop of shoebox units to come in 2017 - AsiaOne

High Park Residences in Sengkang has enjoyed roaring sales in recent weeks, but investors in its smaller units may have trouble leasing them out.

Many shoebox units are coming onstream, peaking around 2017, according to data from R'ST Research. Most will be in District 19 - Hougang, Punggol and Sengkang - with at least 700 of them set for completion over this period, based on caveats lodged.

Leasing demand is untested but supply is rising and fewer foreigners here may be able to afford them.

"Increasingly, many (overseas nationals) can't even afford renting a single shoebox unit, but would instead rent a room in an apartment... Rents will be under further pressure," said Savills Singapore research head Alan Cheong.

In District 19, projects with shoebox units completed last year and in the first half of this year include A Treasure Trove in Punggol Walk and Bartley Residences in Lorong How Sun. 

Others due this year and next year include The Promenade@Pelikat in Hougang, Parc Centros in Punggol Central and River Isles in Edgedale Plains. Later projects include Jewel@Buangkok and La Fiesta in Sengkang Square.

Other shoebox hot spots are District 14, with Eunos, Geylang, Kembangan and Paya Lebar, with at least 527 units; and District 12, including Balestier, Moulmein, Novena and Toa Payoh, with at least 383 units on the way.

In the suburbs, District 17, which takes in Changi, Loyang and Pasir Ris, will have at least 224 units, while District 22, covering Boon Lay, Jurong and Tuas, will have at least 151 units, said R'ST Research.
Overall, shoebox units account for an estimated 18 per cent of new sales for projects completing in the second half of this year and next year, according to SRX Property.

Prices of some newly-completed shoebox units in the Guillemard to Changi Road area in District 14 and 15 were about $1,350 per sq ft in 2013, rising to over $1,400 psf for new completions late last year and this year, said Savills' Mr Cheong.

But rents for a 41 sq m shoebox unit have fallen from $2,600 a month in 2013 to about $2,000 to $2,200 now, taking the gross yield from about 5.2 per cent at end-2013 to about 4.1 per cent now.

Most owners have holding power, preferring to keep a unit rather than sell at a low price, so yields have further room to fall to the mid-3 per cent level for shoebox units in more accessible areas like District 14, with rents below $2,500 a month. "Once we venture into the new developments in the outlying HDB estates, the market is untested. There, yields may tend closer to 3 per cent or even dip below that," Mr Cheong said.

Overall, prices of completed small units have fallen about 10 per cent from their last peak in August 2013, according to flash estimates for the NUS Singapore Residential Price Index. 

They slipped an estimated 1.1 per cent in June from May. But R'ST Research director Ong Kah Seng said while prices will keep falling owing to rising supply, the shoebox apartment remains relevant. "These tend to be occupied by younger tenants or owners, who will bring energy to the development and area - especially important for newer residential areas like Bartley, or those undergoing rejuvenation like Hillview and Lakeside."

Still, for those on a low budget, suburban shoebox units are not a persuasive proposition, said Century 21 chief executive Ku Swee Yong. One with about $2,000 a month can opt for much larger three-room flats in city fringe areas like Ang Mo Kio, Geylang or Toa Payoh, according to HDB's second-quarter housing data.

Mr Cheong noted that many people possess the liquidity or equity to stomach the total debt-servicing ratio, and even the 50 per cent loan-to-value ratio for a second housing loan. "Even if rents collapse, households feel that real estate is something tangible and are more interested in deploying their capital, rather than looking at fundamentals... (Yields) will be challenged in some areas."


This article was first published on August 13, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Thursday, Aug 13, 2015

Rennie Whang

The Straits Times

Source: AsiaOne