SINGAPORE — The 20-year-old Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange will be refurbished to allow commuters to transfer between rail and bus networks, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced today (Feb 4).

The upgraded interchange, expected to be completed in 2019, will feature an underpass linking the interchange with both the North-South Line station and the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line station. It will also be equipped with more commuter-centric and barrier-free facilities to serve residents, as well as enhanced amenities for bus captains.

To facilitate the upgrading, the existing interchange will be temporarily relocated from March 12 to an adjacent site along Woodlands Link. The LTA says that the relocation will not affect commuters, as sheltered linkways will connect the temporary interchange with the existing MRT station and the Causeway Point shopping centre. It also added that there would be no changes to any of the bus routes.

The temporary interchange will feature priority queue zones for seniors, expectant mothers and people with disabilities. These zones will be fitted with seats and have been successfully implemented at both the Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange and the Joo Koon Integrated Transport Hub. A tactile guidance system will also be introduced at the temporary interchange to aid visually impaired commuters locate the relevant waiting areas.

The existing Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange was opened in 1996 and is served by 26 public bus services and two Peak Period Short Services.