Efforts at Minimising Practice of Roads Being Resurfaced or Re-Excavated for Different Works (Feasibility of Common Services Tunnel for New HDB Towns and Major Redevelopment Zones)

Written Reply to Parliamentary Question

(Feasibility of Common Services Tunnel for New HDB Towns and Major Redevelopment Zones)

Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Acting Minister for Transport

a.     in each of the past three years, how many kilometres of resurfaced roads were re-excavated and what was the estimated cost to taxpayers;

b.     what binding powers does the Road Opening Coordination Committee hold to compel a consolidated dig-once schedule; and

c.     why is the Common Services Tunnel model not applicable to new HDB towns and major redevelopment zones.

Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow:

1.     The Land Transport Authority (LTA) imposes a “no-opening” moratorium of one year on newly resurfaced roads to minimise abortive works and inconvenience to stakeholders. However, when there are emergency requests from utility service providers to reopen newly resurfaced roads to supply utility services, LTA will exercise flexibility. There is no additional cost to taxpayers for such re-excavation works. The respective utility service providers are responsible for the full cost of the works, including any road resurfacing or re-excavation required to maintain their networks.

2.     At times, due to the extensive and interconnected utility networks beneath the roads, works need to be carried out in stages. The Road Opening Coordination Committee (ROCC), chaired by LTA, does not direct the implementation of road works, but facilitates the coordination of works across government agencies and utility service providers.

3.     Where feasible, we deploy solutions to facilitate maintenance without repeated road excavations. Both Common Services Tunnels (CSTs) and other solutions such as Utilities Specific Ducts (USDs) achieve this purpose by consolidating and allowing easier access to utility infrastructure such as water pipes, electrical cables and telecommunication cables. CSTs are large tunnels which allow inspection and maintenance throughout the tunnel, and are suited for areas with high infrastructure loads, such as the Marina Bay area. USDs are smaller ducts, and are more suitable for the needs of HDB estates. That said, there may be areas where CSTs and USDs cannot be deployed due to cost and site-specific constraints.