SINGAPORE — Almost 60 train stations, mostly in the north-eastern and north-western parts of Singapore, will be the first to see the expansion of covered walkways.

Aimed at making it easier for everyone to walk to MRT stations, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) yesterday said it called for two tenders to construct covered walkways at 59 stations. They include Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Yishun, Buona Vista, Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Sengkang, Tampines, Paya Lebar, Bugis, Toa Payoh, Caldecott, Marymount, Bedok and Expo.

Two more tenders for the remaining MRT and LRT stations will be called in the last three months of this year.

The move to construct sheltered linkways is part of the Walk2Ride programme announced in January this year. Under the programme, there will be sheltered connectivity between transport nodes and schools, health care facilities, residential developments and public amenities within a 400-metre radius of all MRT stations, as well as within a 200m radius of all LRT stations and bus interchanges.

The Walk2Ride programme will also connect about 100 existing bus shelters with high usage to trip generating hubs within a 200m radius of these bus shelters.

The LTA said construction of the linkways will take place in phases over a period of five years, and is targeted for completion by 2018.

It added that it will also ensure barrier-free connectivity with signage and network maps so as to ensure “a comfortable, convenient and seamless journey” when commuters transit between transport nodes. CHANNEL NEWSASIA