Sentosa Gateway Tunnel to open on April 27

SINGAPORE — The congestion motorists commonly encounter at the traffic junction between VivoCity and St James Power Station could ease from April 27, when a new 1.2km-long tunnel for those leaving Sentosa opens.

The one-way Sentosa Gateway Tunnel, with two lanes, cost S$200 million and took seven years — including a one-year delay — to build. It leads to Lower Delta Road and Keppel Road.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) had said previously that the tunnel, which will also help motorists bypass another busy junction at Telok Blangah Road and Kampong Bahru Road, could halve the travel time for motorists. Those using the existing surface roads could also shave a quarter off the usual time they take when the tunnel opens.

In a press release on Monday (April 3), the LTA said the tunnel has a height limit of 3.5m, meaning buses and goods vehicles are barred from using it.

The height constraint was because the tunnel had to be built just 1.6m above the North-East Line MRT tunnels and about a metre away from the West Coast Highway viaduct foundations.

“In view of the height constraints, and for fire safety reasons, only cars and motorcycles are permitted to use the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel.

“Buses and goods vehicles can continue using the existing at-grade roads towards Telok Blangah Road to reach their destinations,” the authority said. Only couriers and residents are allowed to ride motorcycles into Sentosa.

The LTA said warning signs and height restriction beams would be installed in the area to prevent buses and goods vehicles from entering the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel.

The authorities announced that they would build the tunnel as early as in 2008, citing the expected increase in traffic with the launch of Resorts World Sentosa in 2010, as well as new residential and commercial developments on the island.

Work began in 2010 and was initially expected to be completed by 2015, but the engineering complexities caused a delay.

On Monday, LTA said it would carry out a series of engagement activities, including briefings and sending direct mailers to stakeholders in the coming weeks.

It also advised motorists to plan their routes in advance and follow the traffic signs within and outside the tunnel to help them navigate to their destinations.