無聊人無聊事: Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE)

2013-12-30

Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE)

Whole day hear about MCE causing massive jams.

Source: LTA

Source: ChannelNewsAsia

MCE is the newest expressway in SG which is about 5 km long, cost $4.3 billion to build and opened to traffic on 29 December 2013 9 am.

Today is the first working day the MCE experiences.

But why MCE? Because compared to KPE which affects the people living in the north-east part of SG, this MCE affects people from both east and west. MCE is not built to offer convenience but to replace part of ECP so that the area can be freed up for future developments.

Also, no more scenic views of SG's CBD area. It's quite nice to view from cars actually, I even got to view while WALKING on that bridge (considered as part of ECP) lor. This will go into history le.

Now if I were to move out of my house and travel to Suntec by car, I can't go up Benjamin Sheares Bridge and exit to Rochor Road, which is the most direct route. I have to another route in between meeting with lots of traffic lights via Bayfront Ave, or long way via MCE then ECP exit from some places further than Fort Road (this exit when going west only diverts drivers to MCE), make a u-turn before going up Benjamin Sheares Bridge and exit to Rochor Road.

Very inconvenient indeed.

To make things worse, now there are ERPs around and the trip has so many traffic lights. Lots of negatives than positives.

People are saying the design causes the jam. Example 2 lane slip road from MCE to ECP. Previously it was 4 lanes, now only 2 lanes. Assuming the trend didn't change, the same traffic is going east now what, so it's worse when now only 2 lanes serves the ECP. Arbo make it such that 3 lanes serves ECP, 3 lanes serves KPE lo, sounds more logical like that lol. And also the signage, I feel there could be a better way to present the information. Words are too small (ceiling is too low la), therefore arrows not obvious enough. Destination markings could be made on road surface, so that drivers could see, no need rely on that small but illuminated road signs to avoid going from lane 1 cut across to lane 5 so jialat.

Yes, design is a problem and somehow because there is still phase 2, as the new road cuts the unwanted portion of ECP, so works aren't finished yet. Lots of diversions ba I think. Having said that, it's still ridiculous that a new expressway built liao causes more jam than previous ECP-AYE route. Expressways are supposed to move vehicles at large volume and high speed so to avoid congestion leh, but this defeats the purpose lo. Heard now traffic are diverted into CBD areas! Really bo wei gong, CBD is not supposed to have heavy traffic leh, especially those 路過 ones. And there are ERPs around... Looks like drivers are screwed now.

Definitely there's a better way to manage the whole thing ba?