Direct Link From Alexandra Rd To Keppel Bay To Be Built

Source : The Straits Times, May 14, 2008

IN three years, nature lovers will be able to trek 2.2km directly from Alexandra Road to the southern Keppel waterfront, cutting through garden paths and mangrove swamps along the way.

The more adventurous ones can take another 6km trail along the waterfront, and get to the hills in the Mount Faber and Telok Blangah areas.

Altogether, this 8km loop connecting hills in the Southern Ridges to the southern Keppel waterfront is part of a 2002 plan by the Urban Redevelopment Authority to create more parks and waterbodies in Singapore.

The URA on Wednesday announced the details of the 2.2km walkway, which it called the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last Saturday announced the development of the walkway when he opened two pedestrian bridges linking hills in the Southern Ridges.

The 9km-long Southern Ridges consist primarily of three large hill parks - Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park.

The 2.2km walkway will start with a garden trail at Alexandra Road, where the newly opened Alexandra Arch is. More shrubs will be planted, and cycling paths and more footpaths will be built.

The path then continues into the Berlayer Creek mangrove swamps, currently not accessible to the public. A boardwalk will be built along the banks of the swamps and information boards about flora and fauna in the area will be put up.

The pathway finally opens out into the sea, with a boardwalk connecting Labrador Park to the future promenade of the Reflections at Keppel Bay condominium.

With the condominium and the Labrador Park MRT station also expected to be completed by 2011, that southern area, together with existing nearby recreational areas, such as Gillman Village and Vivocity, is expected to generate more buzz, said Mr Ler Seng Ann, director of URA's conservation and development services.

With the completion of the 2.2km walkway, more areas of Singapore's land and coastline will be made accessible to the public, he said.

The 2.2km walkway is estimated to cost $10 million and construction will begin next year