Marina Coastal Expressway to be unveiled on 29 December

Here is a preview.

According to a release, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will open the new Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) from 9am on Sunday, 29 December 2013.

The 5km-long MCE, Singapore’s tenth expressway, will connect the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) and the East Coast Parkway (ECP) in the east to the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) in the west. 3.6km of MCE is built as a tunnel, including a 420m section underneath the sea bed.

A five-lane expressway in both directions, MCE will link motorists directly to the heart of the downtown at Marina South through the new connections with Central Boulevard, Marina Boulevard and Maxwell Road.

With traffic currently using the ECP now channelled to the MCE, the stretch of the ECP west of Benjamin Sheares Bridge will be converted to a major arterial road. The Benjamin Sheares Bridge will not be affected by this realignment works.

The stretch of the existing ECP after Central Boulevard will be expunged. These changes will free up valuable land space in the city centre currently occupied by the ECP and allow for future development of the downtown at Marina South. This will also enhance the overall quality of the downtown at Marina South as a live-work-play precinct.

A new arterial road, Sheares Avenue, will bring traffic from the ECP directly into the CBD and connect with Central Boulevard and Marina Boulevard. Please refer to Annex A for a map of MCE and its key connections.

When the MCE opens on 29 December 2013, motorists should take note of the following key changes, and make adjustments to their travelling routes if needed.

Firstly, motorists travelling between the KPE / ECP and the AYE should use the MCE, as it will serve as the main expressway connecting traffic travelling between the east and the west.

Secondly, motorists travelling between AYE / ECP / KPE and the CBD can use the MCE to connect directly via Marina Boulevard and Central Boulevard. Depending on their destinations, motorists can also use other arterial roads.

Thirdly, with the ECP ending west of Benjamin Sheares Bridge, motorist can continue to use the new arterial road, Sheares Avenue, to enter the CBD from ECP.