Rush hour can be crush hour at MRT stations like Clementi, Commonwealth and Queenstown.
However, all three are receiving upgrades to improve the commuting experience for passengers.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed the structure of two new pedestrian link bridges and an extended station concourse at Clementi station.
Similar works are under way at Commonwealth and Queenstown. The enhancements will ease congestion on existing link bridges at all three stations. The new access points will also make it easier for more commuters using the stations.
Yesterday, the LTA said works at all three are on track to be completed by the middle of next year. The upgrading will cost a total of $11.7 million.
Elsewhere, the LTA will install a lift at an entrance to Tanah Merah station, while drop-off bays at Pasir Ris and Bishan stations will get high covered roofs.
Works to upgrade Clementi, Commonwealth and Queenstown stations began in 2012. LTA deputy director for infrastructure enhancement Saifulbahri Rasno noted the heavy pedestrian traffic at these three stations, especially during peak hours.
At Clementi, commuters also use the station link bridges to cross the road. Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Ahmad Syahir Sazali, 19, said there is often a squeeze there. "It's very crowded. People bump into each other and it can be hard to walk."
One new link bridge will be located in front of Block 450 along Commonwealth Avenue West, while the other will be sited near blocks 326 and 327. Both will have escalators and a lift. There will be nine fare gates and a general ticketing machine at the Clementi extended station concourse. After tapping in, commuters will be directly linked to the train platform. Mr Saifulbahri said: "The intention is to better distribute heavy commuter flow."
Associate Professor Marcelo Ang from the NUS department of mechanical engineering said the new access points will help halve pedestrian traffic at the existing link bridges.
Separately, the LTA said three new trains have been added to the North-South and East-West lines. Three more are undergoing testing and will be added to the system by September this year.
Commuters at Clementi can also look forward to an extended and high covered bus stop at two heavily-used stops beside the MRT station.
This article was first published on August 01, 2014.
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