The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has called for an Expression of Interest today, inviting consultants to undertake a planning study to strengthen the seamless connection along the Kallang Park Connector so that it can better serve as a commuter cycling route.

Leveraging existing urban assets to improve our living environment

Implemented by the National Parks Board (NParks), the Park Connector Network was built in the 1990s to improve connectivity between parks and provide accessible leisure options for Singaporeans. The concept was to utilise drainage reserve land as a green link between the parks, thereby optimising space for recreation in land scarce Singapore. Kallang Park Connector was the first park connector completed by NParks in 1992 to connect between Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Kallang Riverside Park. In implementation, the challenge was to overcome the obstacles posed by roads, expressways, flyovers, other existing developments, and site constraints.

Twenty years on, URA and the NParks are studying how park users’ experience along this park connector can be enhanced by providing a more seamless connection so that it can also serve as a useful and pleasant commuter cycling route. Due to its alignment, this Park Connector has the potential to serve as a key commuter cycling route from central Singapore to the south.


Completed in 1992, the seamlessness of the Kallang Park Connector can be potentially strengthened and serve as a key commuter cycling route from central Singapore to the south

Planning study to size up challenges

The preliminary study has identified seven locations along the 10km-long park connector where pedestrians and cyclists’ journeys are currently affected or interrupted by major roads and expressways. See Annex A [PDF, 620kb]  for details on the locations.


Pedestrians and cyclists’ journeys are currently affected by major roads and expressways

With the planning study, the URA aims to engage the private sector and invite consultants to look into the feasibility of turning the Kallang Park Connector into a seamless commuter cycling route with innovative design and technical solutions. Possible technical and engineering solutions include:  

• Engineering cycling-friendly ramps and bridges over roads and waterbodies in constrained sites while still meeting vehicular height clearances; and ensuring the construction process does not adversely compromise drainage or vehicular capacity; and 
• Conducting soil and structural investigations to ensure that proposed underpasses do not compromise the stability of the existing Kallang River drain wall, existing vehicular bridge footings, or existing underground services.

Two-stage tender process

The Expression of Interest exercise comprises a 2-stage tender selection process. Interested teams are required to submit their proposal and information such as team composition and track record by 24 August 2015.

URA will evaluate the proposals and shortlist up to five teams of consultants to participate in the second stage of the EOI in October 2015.

The successful team that will undertake the planning study will be announced in 2nd Quarter 2016. The study is expected to take a year to complete.  It is an exploratory study, and agencies will decide the next course of action after assessing the findings and the costs involved.

More information on the tender process is available at http://ura.sg/bishantocity.