http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-bedok-bus-interchange/1505808.html
The opening of the Bedok Integrated Transport Hub on Sunday (Nov 30) was marred by some commuter complaints of traffic jams.After Bedok Integrated Transport Hub opened, some complained that buses seemed to take longer than acceptable to leave and enter Singapore’s largest bus interchange.
“The bus flow was pretty bad” on Sunday, said a commuter who chose to remain unnamed. He pointed the finger at the traffic light at the junction of Bedok North Drive – the road leading to the transport hub – and Bedok North Ave 1. “The roads here are also too narrow,” he added.
Ms Emily Kan, 73, said the feeder bus trip from her home to the interchange, which used to take less than 15 minutes, took about half an hour on Sunday and Monday.
Another commuter, Mr Eric Ng, said that the bus he took to the interchange on Monday at 8.30am took about 15 minutes just to enter the interchange.
He noted that on the return journey, the bus he boarded left the interchange without any delays.
When Channel NewsAsia visited during the morning off-peak period, a string of buses were seen waiting for the traffic light to change in their favour, allowing them to turn right into Bedok North Drive from Bedok North Ave 1.
Previously, buses entered the old terminal via New Upper Changi Road. No marshals were seen assigned to direct traffic.
A commuter at the interchange on Tuesday afternoon, Madam Fathma Adam, 73, said she was not surprised about the jams. “There are so many buses here, and roads are very small, and there’s only one lane leading to the terminal,” she said.
A shopowner, Ms Liang, noted that compared to the previous interchange, in which about “five or six” buses could stop concurrently to let passengers alight, only three buses can stop at the same time at the new transport hub.
A bus captain who asked to remain unnamed also cited the number of traffic lights outside the terminal and the narrow lanes as possible causes of delays.
“There is also limited parking space for the buses inside the interchange,” said the bus captain, who added that it was confusing that two of the three lanes exiting the terminal filtered to the left.
The 1.6-hectare interchange, which is linked to Bedok Mall, allows commuters an air-conditioned transfer to Bedok MRT Station. A total of 29 bus services call at the hub.
"LTA is monitoring the traffic situation closely and will continue to review for further adjustments to enhance the traffic flow," the LTA spokesperson added.
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