Fort Canning trees spared with new tunnelling method

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 29 March 2006 1732 hrs
By Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : A new 350-metre long tunnel is being built right under Fort Canning Park.

The tunnel, set to be completed at the end of the year, will allow traffic travelling from Stamford Road to bypass two traffic junctions to get to Penang Road.

The Land Transport Authority says it is using a special mining method for the first time in Singapore.

With this method, which costs an additional S$2 million, the park will not be destroyed.

The traditional method of building tunnels includes digging up the entire area before covering it up again later.

This new method has helped to preserve 35 trees in the area, including a rare 50-year-old terap tree.

Said Choo Eng Geok, assistant manager (road construction), Road Development and Management Sub-Division, LTA, "We have actually one 50-year-old iconic tree which especially symbolises Fort Canning Park. And this is one of the methods that we can actually save the tree because the tunnel is very close to the tree." - CNA /ct

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Monkey says:
I wonder how much jofen has a hand in this but this is really really good news! :)