A weblog of - Dr. Teo Ho Pin

Works have started on the Downtown Line 2 (DTL 2 ), which will connect residents in Bukit Panjang and Bukit Timah to the city.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim launched the start of construction on Friday morning in a groundbreaking ceremony near Beauty World Plaza.

The 16.6km DTL2 will have 12 stops and is expected to be completed by 2015. It starts from Bukit Panjang, passes through the Bukit Timah corridor and runs to Rochor.

The new line is expected to cut travelling times by up to 30 per cent. Residents would have to put up with a series of road traffic diversions as the stations are constructed.

Land Transport Authority stressed that traffic capacity will not drop as diverted roads will go through a lane-for-lane replacement.

'As with other major rail construction projects, there will some disruption and inconvenience... I seek the understanding of residents, motorists and other commuters in this area,' said Mr Lim.

The $12 billion Downtown Line is being built in three phases and will be fully completed in 2016. The third phase will eventually run to the eastern part of Singapore, passing through Macpherson and ending at Expo.

Next Brisk Walk @ Bukt Panjang Community Club - 5 July 2009, Sunday at 7.00am

Join Bukit Panjang Brisk Walk on every 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at Bukit Panjang Community Club and Saujana Court @ Block 413 Saujana Road respectively.

Bring your friends and neighbours along to spend a healthier Sunday together.

More than 800 residents took part in the 1st Sunday of the month walk @ Bukit Panjang on 3 May 2009, Sunday at 7.10am.

After the 3 km walk, the residents were treated with a short video on conmen scammer and an awareness talk by the police at the Bukit Panjang CC Multi-purpose Hall.