Project to Enhance Motorists’ Driving Experience in HDB Car Park along Cashew Road

GRL Mr Eugene De Rozario, HDB, MOE, EMA, SPG, SLA, HBPTC

Bukit Panjang Primary School participated in a trial to relieve the traffic congestion along Cashew Road and ensure students’ safety.  

To pick up/ drop off children at the back gate of Bukit Panjang Primary School (BPPS), parents would have to enter the car park from Cashew Road and make a turn via a bend next to an electrical substation (ESS). There was feedback that the substation would block the line of sight of motorists going around the bend. In addition, the driveway along the bend was narrow and was a two-way driveway. 

These factors posed potential safety concerns. After deliberation, agencies agreed that the most feasible option was for HDB to construct a new one-way driveway between the school and the substation, and to convert the two-way driveway into a wider one-way driveway. 

However, the space between the school and the substation was too narrow to accommodate a new driveway. There was also a service bay in front of the substation reserved for SP Group. HDB worked with SP Group (with the support of the Energy Market Authority) to reconfigure the service bay to facilitate the construction of the driveway.

The land parcel which the new driveway was to be constructed on belonged to the Ministry of Education (MOE). For HDB to construct the driveway, MOE had to return the land to the State, and HDB had to alienate the land, a process that was expedited by SLA, in view of a tight timeline. 

The new driveway was within proximity to the substation with underground main transmission cables that distributed electricity. The cables were high voltage cables and would cause a major electricity disruption if affected by construction. For the safety of workers, and to prevent disruption to residents, these cables had to be diverted out of the site, prior to the construction of the driveway, and required deployment of skilled workers. 

Despite the challenges, the project was carried out and has since enhanced the situation for motorists and the school. The Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council also assisted with the smooth handover of the completed driveways. This was made possible with the close coordination among agencies as well as strong support from the grassroots leaders.

Site plan of carpark along Cashew Road

Before improvement works - HDB worked with MOE on the return of land to State and alienation of land [process expedited by Singapore Land Authority (SLA)] where the new one-way driveway is constructed

After improvement works - HDB worked with SPPG to reconfigure the service bay in front of ESS to accommodate the new driveway (supported by EMA)

Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council (HBPTC)  assisted with the smooth handover of the completed driveway.

Residents and grassroots leaders are happy with the completed works.