New U-turn to cut Newton Circus traffic

[kobayashiGT]

New U-turn to cut Newton Circus traffic

A new U-turn designed to reduce traffic going into Newton Circus will open today.

The U-turn is for traffic on Bukit Timah Road heading towards Woodlands to change direction and go towards the city.

The U-turn was mentioned in February in Parliament by Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan. Answering questions from MP Melvin Yong about accidents at Newton Circus, Mr Khaw said improvement works were planned, one of which was for "U-turn facilities at approaching roads to reduce the number of vehicles using the roundabout".

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) had considered building an underpass and flyover to improve flow at Newton Circus, often a bottleneck between major roads.

Mr Yong shared the news of the U-turn on Facebook yesterday.

"A new vehicular U-turn, located underneath the existing Newton Flyover, has been completed and it will be opened to the public with effect from 6am on July 28, 2019 (Sunday)," he wrote. "For motorists travelling along Bukit Timah Road (towards Woodlands) to Bukit Timah Road (towards city), you can expect to shave precious time off your travel journey and avoid driving into Newton Circus."

Observers said the new U-turn could itself cause congestion, as vehicles turning back will form a tailback on one lane, impeding access to the roundabout. As the U-turn is sited close to the circus, motorists may still opt to use the roundabout to turn back. In this case, it may not be feasible to build the U-turn farther from the circus as a ramp for a viaduct is in the way.

In response to queries, the LTA said the U-turn was part of a road improvement contract awarded to Megastone Holdings. The works include expanding the junctions at Balmoral Road/Bukit Timah Road and Newton Circus and adding four U-turn facilities along the junctions.

[Watwheels]

I thought it's been open for some time liao...

Hey, come on. This news was in July leh.

 

Aiya, that roundabout is useless with so much traffic going on. Should break record and do a multi flyover. 🤣

[13177]

Where is the U turn? 😂 Can help in jam at newton circus meh?

[Adrianli]

8 minutes ago, 13177 said:

Where is the U turn? 😂 Can help in jam at newton circus meh?

This U-turn is essentially for those who drop-off their kids going to a famous school there. Been open for quite a while already.

[Watwheels]

7 minutes ago, 13177 said:

Where is the U turn? 😂 Can help in jam at newton circus meh?

They put it near where you are approaching the roundabout so that when other cars exit they will have near collision with cars doing the u-turn. Smart or not?

Funny they can do a ramp for elite parents to drop their kids to elite schools and head for their offices in town but they cannot do more ramps for other directions. Weird. Still can blame drivers for their "roundabout etiquette". This one best. Dunno what's his name.

[bsswan]

On 12/9/2019 at 12:27 PM, Adrianli said:

This U-turn is essentially for those who drop-off their kids going to a famous school there. Been open for quite a while already.

"A new vehicular U-turn, located underneath the existing Newton Flyover, has been completed and it will be opened to the public with effect from 6am on July 28, 2019 (Sunday)," he wrote.

 

It's already in the story......slow day by the looks of it.

[flashbang]

On 12/9/2019 at 12:29 PM, Watwheels said:

They put it near where you are approaching the roundabout so that when other cars exit they will have near collision with cars doing the u-turn. Smart or not?

Funny they can do a ramp for elite parents to drop their kids to elite schools and head for their offices in town but they cannot do more ramps for other directions. Weird. Still can blame drivers for their "roundabout etiquette". This one best. Dunno what's his name.

Did you pay enough tax? The tax these parents pay may cover annual salary package for some workers. A ramp is something they deserve.

[Volvobrick]

There are a lot of stupid junction designs scattered around the island, making drivers go through 2 major intersections just to U-turn (e.g. Farrer Road/Bukit Timah/Dunearn.  They should add similar U-turns for Bukit Timah/Dunearn traffic), or forcing U-turning drivers to wait together with right turning cars (e.g Clementi Ave 6/Commonwealth) where similar U-turns before the junction will help relieve congestion.

Commonsense is really not so common at LTA.

 

[Mkl22]

1 hour ago, Volvobrick said:

There are a lot of stupid junction designs scattered around the island, making drivers go through 2 major intersections just to U-turn (e.g. Farrer Road/Bukit Timah/Dunearn.  They should add similar U-turns for Bukit Timah/Dunearn traffic), or forcing U-turning drivers to wait together with right turning cars (e.g Clementi Ave 6/Commonwealth) where similar U-turns before the junction will help relieve congestion.

Commonsense is really not so common at LTA.

 

I’ll bet that majority of the road And traffic designers don’t drive themselves. Only rely on hairbrained simulations. 

[Soya]

On 12/13/2019 at 12:18 AM, Mkl22 said:

I’ll bet that majority of the road And traffic designers don’t drive themselves. Only rely on hairbrained simulations. 

Too true

Can't imagine a driver actually designing roads the way LTA does it sometimes...