Lengkok Bahru Marks the Seventh Completed Silver Zone
Senior residents in Lengkok Bahru can look forward to a series of new road safety features as the estate becomes the seventh completed Silver Zone in Singapore.
2 Since the scheme was first announced at the Committee of Supply debate in 2014, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed seven Silver Zones. Another eight Silver Zones will be completed by 2017. LTA intends to implement 35 Silver Zones in residential estates by 2020.
3 The Silver Zone programme involves the installation of senior-friendly road safety features in residential areas with high senior resident populations, relatively higher accident rates involving seniors and closer proximity to senior amenities. These features are customised to site conditions and remind motorists to slow down and look out for pedestrians, as well as urge senior pedestrians to exercise greater care when crossing the road.
4 “As we work towards making Singapore more conducive for walking, cycling, and riding public transport, we need to look at different ways to make it easier for seniors to get to nearby amenities or transport nodes. One such way is to make it safer for seniors by providing road safety features, such as two-stage crossings and extended green man timings, to help our pedestrians cross the roads more safely and conveniently. We have also lowered speed limits, where feasible, to encourage motorists to exercise greater care when driving within Silver Zones,” said LTA Chief Executive, Mr Chew Men Leong.
5 The Silver Zone at Lengkok Bahru includes new road safety features such as raised informal crossings, which have been fitted with ramps to provide users with a barrier-free route when crossing the road. Two-stage crossings are also provided, where possible, to make it easier for seniors to cross the roads. Apart from the new crossings, lane widths have been reduced to encourage motorists to travel at lower speeds, allowing them to keep a better lookout for pedestrians crossing the road. Other traffic calming measures include the implementation of a roundabout and bus-friendly humps.
6 The first two Silver Zones in Bukit Merah and Jurong West were launched in October 2014 and February 2015 respectively. Silver Zones in Bedok North (Street 3), Lengkok Bahru, Tampines, Woodlands (Drive 14), and Yishun were completed in December 2015.
7 Works in Marine Parade and Hougang are targeted to complete in the second and third quarters of 2016 respectively. Remaining Silver Zones in Clementi, Toa Payoh, Bedok North (Street 1), Telok Blangah, Woodlands (Avenue 1) and Commonwealth are slated for completion by third quarter of 2017.
8 Please refer to the Annex for details on the Silver Zone.
