1.     LTA will be building a new road tunnel to meet demands from the expected growth in traffic as a result of the continued development in the Sentosa and Harbour Front area.

2.     The Sentosa Gateway Tunnel will complement a package of road improvement measures that LTA announced in February 2008 to cater to increased traffic volume in the Sentosa-Harbour Front area when Resorts World at Sentosa is completed by 2010.

3.     With the expected completion of the Resorts World at Sentosa as well as other future residential and commercial developments in Sentosa Island, traffic volume plying the vicinity is expected to grow by some 20% between 2010 and 2015.

4.     By 2015, the growth in traffic demand in the area would have almost utilised all available capacity for surface roads. Instead of widening the at-grade junctions further, LTA expects the completion of this road tunnel in 2015 to be a more efficient means to cater to the projected increase in traffic demand by 2015 and thus enhancing the positive travel experience for all going to the Sentosa-Harbour Front area.

5.     The road tunnel will connect outbound traffic from Sentosa Island directly to Kampong Bahru Road and Keppel Road bypassing the busy traffic junctions of Sentosa Gateway and Telok Blangah Road, as well as Telok Blangah Road and Kampong Bahru Road.

6.     Motorists traveling through these two junctions into Sentosa Island or to the other developments in the area can expect a smoother journey, while outbound traffic from Sentosa will have a direct connection towards the ECP via Keppel Road or the AYE via Lower Delta Road through this tunnel.

7.     Concurrently with the tunnel construction, the LTA will be widening Lower Delta Road from two lanes to three lanes in both directions between Kampong Bahru Road and AYE. In addition, the LTA will upgrade the Lower Delta Flyover to allow motorists from Lower Delta Road (North bound) to connect directly to the AYE (City bound).

Construction in Phases

8.     Construction of the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel will take place in two phases. In the first phase, LTA will conduct an advance road diversion along Sentosa Gateway to create space to facilitate the construction of the tunnel. The advance road diversion will minimise the impact of traffic along Sentosa Gateway when works for the tunnel are ongoing.

9.     The advance road diversion works will commence by the end of this year and will complete by the end of 2009 before the opening of Resorts World at Sentosa, so as to minimise inconvenience.

10.     To determine a suitable design and method of construction for the tunnel, the LTA will be engaging a consultant to do a detailed study. LTA will be calling for tenders from August for this engineering study.

11.     Construction of the tunnel will only commence upon completion of the advance road diversion works and the engineering study. Major construction works for the road tunnel is expected to begin by 2011 and to complete by end of 2015.

12.     "To meet the continuous development of the Sentosa-Harbour Front area as a vibrant retail and leisure centre over the next few years, the LTA is committed to improve road infrastructure in the road network so as to provide a positive travel experience for visitors to this area as well as those going to the Sentosa Island. We have started work earlier this year and we expect that the construction of the new road tunnel will complement those improvements and meet the increase in travel demand in the area," said LTA Chief Executive, Mr Yam Ah Mee.