1. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong graced the opening ceremony of the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), Southeast Asia's longest underground expressway today. PM Lee also unveiled the KPE commemorative book, "Building Singapore's Longest Road Tunnel - The KPE Story", which highlights the construction challenges and milestones, and profiles the people behind Singapore's most complex and challenging expressway project to date.

2. The KPE serves the growing residential, commercial and industrial needs of the north-eastern corridor and is expected to reduce journey time in the northeast corridor by up to 25%. This benefits motorists travelling between the north-east sector and the city, as well as improves connectivity between the ECP, PIE and TPE.

3. Costing $1.7 billion to build, the KPE is part of the Government's commitment to build roads to support Singapore's growth.

4. The KPE will open to traffic on 20th September at 10 am.

5 The LTA and Traffic Police would like to remind all motorists to abide by the prescribed road speed limit of 70km/h.

Community Involvement

6. Advisors, residents and representatives of businesses located along the KPE alignment were invited to the ceremony to celebrate the expressway's opening and as a gesture of appreciation for their support during the project construction.

7. Mr Yam Ah Mee, LTA's Chief Executive, said, "The KPE's construction involved weaving through densely built up residential neighbourhoods. Many residents, business owners, community leaders and grassroots organisations were affected and some were inevitably inconvenienced. Nevertheless, you gave us your full support and patiently put up with the noise, dust and diversions which were inevitable for such a large project. To everyone in the communities along the KPE, we owe you our heartfelt thanks."

About KPE

The KPE is a 12-km expressway that stretches from the East Coast Parkway (ECP) to the Tampines Expressway (TPE). With nine kilometres of the expressway constructed as an underground tunnel, the KPE will be the longest underground expressway in Southeast Asia upon its completion in 2008. The expressway starts from the ECP in the south, crosses under the Geylang River, Nicoll Highway, Mountbatten Road, Geylang Road, Sims Avenue and the PIE. The route continues from Aljunied Road and Upper Paya Lebar/ Paya Lebar Road before following Airport Road past the Paya Lebar Air Base to connect to the TPE.