Kranji Expressway is Singapore’s eighth expressway.1 Built between 1994 and 1995, it is 8.4km long. It links the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), at the Tengah flyover, near Hong Kah.2
History
In 1990, the Public Works Department received a S$1.1 billion budget from the government to develop and construct a network of expressways and roads throughout the island over a period of five years.3 This was in tune with the government’s plan to develop the northern and western parts of Singapore into residential and industrial places of choice.4 The road development work included widening, expanding and re-aligning portions of existing expressways, such as the PIE, BKE and CTE (Central Expressway). It also included building underground roads, tunnels, viaducts, semi-expressways and flyovers. The construction of 13 new interchanges and the construction of a road linking BKE and PIE were also included in the plan. This new road was probably named Kranji Expressway as it passed through the Kranji estate in Woodlands, connecting it to Jurong, Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang.5
Construction of the expressway began in April 1990 and it was completed in six stages.6 One of the more difficult jobs in laying the expressway was the clearing of a 1,000 cu m large granite outcrop along the way, for which 300 kg of explosives was used.7 The expressway project comprised five different contracts covering different jobs in the road construction.8
Both the PIE and the AYE were concurrently developed. The PIE was developed at a cost of S$180 million and it was extended until Tuas. Construction of this work began in 1991 and it was completed in 1994.9 Similarly in 1993, the existing Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim was upgraded and extended from Jurong Town Hall Road to Tuas, thus incorporating it into the existing AYE.10 This development was completed in 1997.11 The existing AYE until then only connected the junction of CTE and East Coast Parkway to Jurong Town Hall Road.12
The entire network of linking roads came about by the construction of KJE connecting the BKE in Woodlands to the PIE at Hong Kah,13 the extension of PIE from Hong Kah to Tuas and the extension of AYE from Jurong Town Hall Road to Tuas to join the PIE.14 This extensive network improves accessibility, and enhances residential and industrial development for the western and northern regions of the island.15 Its most marked effect was on the Choa Chu Kang estate which it helped transform from a backwater town into a thriving housing estate.16
Description
The KJE has six flyovers. Beginning at the Tengah Flyover, it is linked to Brickland Road at the Lam San Flyover (Exit 5), to Choa Chu Kang Way at the Choa Chu Kang West Flyover (Exit 4), to Choa Chu Kang Drive at the Choa Chu Kang East Flyover (Exit 3), to Woodlands Road at the Yew Tee Flyover (Exit 2) and to Bukit Timah Road at the Gali Batu Flyover (Exit 1).17
One unique feature of the KJE was the use of a special tar-like asphalt substance as a surface material to minimise the risk of skidding. KJE was one of the first few roads to feature this new surfacing in 1994 which cost S$6.1 million.18 This anti-skid feature was later incorporated into other roads as well.19 The Kranji Expressway was inaugurated on the 4 March 1995 by the Acting Development Minister Lim Hng Kiang.20
Kranji Expressway serves residents of Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Batok and Jurong.21 As it connects Jurong to Woodlands, the expressway is a faster alternative to Malaysians who travel here from Johor to work in factories in Jurong and Tuas.22 Slip roads have been built to provide access between roads at ground level and the expressways.23
Significant construction along the expressway include private and public housing units, most of which were constructed after the laying of the expressway in 1994.24 The Yew Tee MRT which opened with the rest of the Woodlands MRT Line on 10 February 1996 also played a pivotal role in the development of Choa Chu Kang estate.25 The URA released its Development Guide Plan in 1996, soon after the opening of the Yew Tee MRT, with the vision of transforming the Choa Chu Kang estate into a residential district.26
Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja
References
1. Dhaliwal, R. (1995, March 5). $1.9 b for roads over next 5 years. The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Blasting resumes for Kranji Expressway. (1993, October 15). The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Dhaliwal, R. (1995, March 5). $1.9 b for roads over next 5 years. The Straits Times, p. 3; Dhaliwal, R. (1990, February 5). Expressway network ready within 5 years. The Straits Times, p. 19. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Work on Kranji Expressway's second phase under way. (1991, October 31). The Straits Times, p. 18. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Kranji Expressway (KJE). (2013, January 18). Retrieved on 2016, May 11 from LTA website: https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/roads-and-motoring/projects/kranji-expressway-kje.html
6. Expressway will benefit Bukit Batok, Jurong, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang residents. (1994, June 12). The Straits Times, p. 26. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Blasting resumes for Kranji Expressway. (1993, October 15). The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Kranji Expressway: Work begins on Choa Chu Kang interchange. (1992, October 3). The Straits Times, p. 25; Work starts on Kranji/ Woodlands interchange (1992, July 25). The Straits Times, p. 22. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. PIE will reach Tuas by ‘94. (1992, January 8). The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. Ayer Rajah Expressway to be extended all the way to Tuas. (1993, December 5). The Straits Times, p. 30. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
11. Chan, M. F. (1997, November 18). AYE extension to Tuas opens, The Straits Times, p. 36. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Ayer Rajah Expressway to be extended all the way to Tuas. (1993, December 5). The Straits Times, p. 30. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
13. Kranji Expressway: Work begins on Choa Chu Kang interchange. (1992, October 3). The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
14. Ayer Rajah Expressway to be extended all the way to Tuas. (1993, December 5). The Straits Times, p. 30. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
15. Northern region: home to private industrial developments. (1995, July 13). The Business Times, p. 2; Tan, C., & Yeo, S. (1996, May 19). Choa Chu Kang: on the fast track to growth. The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
16. Tan, C., & Yeo, S. (1996, May 19). Choa Chu Kang: on the fast track to growth. The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
17. Public Works Department (1994/5) Annual report / Public Works Dept.. Singapore: Public Works Department, p. 10. (Call no.: RSING 354.59570086 SIN-[AR]); Kranji Expressway. Retrieved on 2016, May 11 from Singapore Street Directory website: http://www.streetdirectory.com/sg/kranji-expressway-kje-exit-1-from-pie-towards-bke-near-gali-batu-flyover/19574_1.html
18. Leong, C. T. (1994, June 12). New Kranji Expressway to have safer rainy-weather road surface. The Straits Times, p. 26. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
19. Leong, C. T. (1994, June 12). New Kranji Expressway to have safer rainy-weather road surface. The Straits Times, p. 26; Dhaliwal, R. (1993, December 5). PIE extension opens with better skid-resistance. The Straits Times, p. 30; Dhaliwal, R. (1995, March 5). $1.9 b for roads over next 5 years, The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
20. Dhaliwal, R. (1995, March 5). $1.9 b for roads over next 5 years, The Straits Times, p. 3; Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
21. Expressway will benefit Bukit Batok, Jurong, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang residents. (1994, June 12). The Straits Times, p. 26. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
22. Expressway will benefit Bukit Batok, Jurong, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang residents. (1994, June 12). The Straits Times, p. 26. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
23. Kranji Expressway: Work begins on Choa Chu Kang interchange. (1992, October 3). The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
24. Tan, C. (1996, May 17). URA to turn Choa Chu Kang into choice residential district. The Straits Times, p. 64. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
25. Lim S.T. (1996, January 27). Time and money savings for some MRT commuters, The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
26. Tan, C., & Yeo, S. (1996, May 19). Choa Chu Kang: on the fast track to growth. The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
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