LTA, URA junks plans for underground road system

They said the public transport network will no longer need a new system.

Plans for the Singapore Underground Road System (SURS) were pulled out due to changes in the public transport network and land use policies.

In a joint release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the land previously safeguarded for SURS will be de-safeguarded.

SURS was a plan to build a 15-km arterial ring road system to contain traffic growth in the city centre.

LTA and URA said the full opening of the Downtown Line on 21 October this year will further improve public transport connectivity, especially for commuters travelling from the north-western and eastern regions of the island to the Central Business District (CBD) and Marina Bay areas.

When completed in 2024, the Thomson-East Coast Line will connect northern and eastern parts to the city centre.

The Circle Line Stage 6 will also close the loop for the Circle Line by 2025.

LTA said it expects the rail network to be 360 km long by 2030, and 90% CBD developments will be five minutes away from an MRT station.

The agencies said the government is working to build commercial centres outside the city. This will reduce the need to travel out by bringing employment closer to homes.

The de-safeguarding of the land for SURS will also allow landowners to make use of their development plans.