The Government has aborted its plans to build the Singapore Underground Road System that would connect Marina Bay, River Valley, Orchard and some city fringe areas. The move is in line with Singapore’s vision towards a car-lite society.

As a result, land previously safeguarded for the SURS will be de-safeguarded with effect from August 29, according to a joint statement by the Land Transport Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority. This would give previously affected land owners greater flexibility in their development plans.

The SURS was conceptualised in the late 1980s as a 15km long underground arterial ring road system to cater to potential traffic growth into and out of the city centre. Enhancements to the public transport network have removed the need for SURS.

Safeguarded SURS alignment

The Government cited that full opening of the Downtown Line on October 21 will further improve public transport connectivity, especially for commuters travelling from the north-western and eastern regions of the island to the CBD and Marina Bay areas. When completed in 2024, the Thomson-East Coast Line will connect commuters in the northern and eastern parts of Singapore to the heart of the city. By 2030, the rail network will be 360km long and more than 90% of developments in the CBD will be within a five-minute walk to an MRT station.

Separately, the developments of commercial centres in different parts of the island would bring employment and amenities closer to homes, thereby reducing the need for travel into and out of the city centre.