Construction of street circuit to start next month, pending FIA approval
According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the project will be carried out in phases and is expected to be completed by the end of May next year, four months before the Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 28.
In a statement on Friday, the STB said that work will include the construction of a paddock area and a 1.2-km stretch of road near the Singapore Flyer.
Some sections of the 5-km street circuit will also be widened.
The Sept 28 race is currently on the provisional calendar of the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA), the world motor sport body, for next season. The race will be confirmed once the street circuit is approved.
The STB expects the green light to come early next month. "Work will begin immediately after that, sometime in the middle of next month, and it will be carried out in phases to minimise inconvenience to the public," said an STB spokesperson.
More than 70 per cent of the circuit, which will wind around Marina Bay as well as the Padang, is made up of the existing road network.
Once completed, the paddock, which is located in front of the Singapore Flyer, will house the control tower, garages for teams, hospitality lounges and a media centre.
An underground entrance to the area will also be constructed.
According to Mr Lim Neo Chian, STB deputy chairman and chief executive, some modifications were made to the original street plan that was revealed to the public in May.
He added: "At the same time, we are combing through the details for the rest of the infrastructure works, such as finalising the design concept and the construction schedule of the paddock building.
"We are confident that both the circuit and paddock building will be officially endorsed very soon."
Mr Colin Syn, the deputy chairman of Singapore GP, the promoters and organisers of the race, said the track layout "hasn't changed dramatically".
But the circuit plan finally resembles a proper racetrack, with all the attendant infrastructure marked in.
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