North-South Corridor could include iconic public space in Rochor linking 3 cultural districts (2024)

SINGAPORE – An iconic public space at the intersection of Rochor Canal Road, Sungei Road and Jalan Besar could be constructed to connect three cultural districts – Little India, Kampong Glam and Waterloo Street – and educational institutions nearby.

These institutions include Lasalle College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Singapore Management University.

This is among early proposed plans for the surface streets along the 21.5km North-South Corridor (NSC), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Aug 27.

The public space has the potential to enhance walking, cycling and riding experiences around Rochor Road, and allow better connections between Little India, Kampong Glam and Waterloo Street.

A stretch of Ophir Road next to Kampong Glam could also be pedestrianised to become a site for events and activities that celebrate heritage and culture, and connect Kampong Glam to Bugis, added LTA.

These ideas stemmed from landscape architecture firm Henning Larsen, which, with its partners, has been appointed the masterplan consultant for the surface streets along the corridor, LTA said.

Its partners include architectural consultancy Ramboll, urban planning firm Cistri, architectural company Gehl, community-centric design practice Participate in Design, and environmental consultancy Camphora.

The authority said the firm envisages four distinct segments for the corridor from the north to the south: a 6km community-industrial stretch, a 7km ecological loop, a 5km people’s wellness corridor, and a 3.5km cultural-heritage segment.

LTA noted that the four segments will feature more than 20 public spaces that reflect the unique characteristics of nearby neighbourhoods and destinations.

Another early idea by Henning Larsen is the construction of a “life reserve” in Ang Mo Kio along the proposed ecological loop segment of the NSC.

The reserve will feature nature-based public spaces, bicycle paths, footpaths and play areas with greenery, and link the corridor to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

The northern stretch of the NSC could also feature recreational spots beneath the viaduct in Gambas Avenue, such as play spaces and art installations, added LTA.

Stretching from Admiralty to Rochor, the NSC includes an 8.8km expressway viaduct in the north and 12.3km of underground road tunnels in the south.

It is set to be completed from 2027 onwards, and is expected to cut travel time by up to 30 minutes from Woodlands, Sembawang, Yishun and Ang Mo Kio to the city, and ease traffic snarls on the Central Expressway.

It could free up surface road space the size of about 30 football fields for other uses, including wider footpaths, dedicated cycling paths and bus lanes, more greenery and new community spaces for those living and working nearby.

LTA said Henning Larsen will develop its proposals in the coming months, and more feedback will be sought from the community, members of the public and other parties.

The masterplan is slated to be completed in 2026, and the NSC’s repurposed surface streets will be rolled out in stages from 2027.

The blueprint, added LTA, will take other considerations into account, such as broader development plans and transport connectivity for the surrounding areas.

Members of the public who wish to take part in the NSC’s masterplan workshops and events may express their interest at go.gov.sg/nsc-survey-2024

Henning Larsen was among three shortlisted companies out of 26 teams that responded to LTA’s call in October 2023 to develop a masterplan for the NSC’s surface streets.

The three shortlisted companies were given the task of developing proposals that incorporate ideas mooted by the community and other parties at earlier workshops. These include having more shaded areas, and making public spaces safer for walking and cycling.

A 10-member design advisory panel, which included the heads of government agencies, property developer GuocoLand and the Safe Cycling Task Force, then evaluated the proposals.

Mr Leonard Ng, country market director for Singapore at Henning Larsen, said the company is working on a “living, breathing” space that will be a blueprint for future mobility and urban living, and the NSC will not only connect people physically but also strengthen Singapore’s social fabric.

LTA chief executive Ng Lang, chairman of the design advisory panel, said the NSC will offer new experiences by combining active mobility options, public spaces and connections to places.

Experts said Henning Larsen’s consultative approach is the right step forward in promoting walking, cycling and riding within the community.

Research Assistant Professor Samuel Chng, head of the Urban Psychology Lab from the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, said the participatory design process will lead to the creation of spaces that are loved and used often by people over time.

But it may be a challenge to ensure that the community continues to use and take ownership of these spaces as the infrastructure itself may not compel people to keep returning, he said.

On the ecological loop, Prof Chng noted that it is important to prioritise one of the original intents of the NSC – which is to integrate active mobility options into public spaces – and not to add “too many frills” where people end up cycling through a “forest”.

He added: “So a fine balance is required. How much can you add to a space without detracting from the central idea of the corridor?”

Placemaking and transport consultant Tham Chen Munn said the sustainability of these spaces ultimately depends on how people will be encouraged to use these segments.

Citing the cultural-heritage segment as an example, he said regular tours would have to be conducted to allow visitors to enjoy its intended function of promoting heritage and culture.

He added that people need to be involved in the development of these spaces, which should have the flexibility to evolve according to the community’s changing needs, since the NSC is a long-haul project.

Pedestrians welcomed the early plans.

Retired engineer Juke Chiam, 74, said he hopes for the iconic public space at the intersection of Rochor Canal Road, Sungei Road and Jalan Besar to house shops and food outlets.

He also wants the inclusion of greenery to “cool down” the surrounding areas, which are now dotted by many buildings.

Junior college student Nur Shakirah Shahrin, 17, felt that the pedestrianisation of part of Ophir Road next to Kampong Glam would make walking between Bugis and the historic district more convenient.

She added that this change would strike a “good balance between modernity and heritage”.

• Additional reporting by Therese Soh