Even though his heart stopped beating and this could be due to poor ventilation in the tunnel - a potential time bomb. Does the Famliee really regard lives other their own so cheeply and insignificantly?
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Lighting up KPE with record lantern bid
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sumathi V. Selvaretnam
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom>
Some 10,500 participants switched on battery-run lanterns to try to set a Guinness World Record for the largest lantern parade, at the KPE tunnel. -- PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->SOME 15,000 Singaporeans travelled through the unopened stretch of the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) tunnel on foot yesterday.
The event, called Swing KPE, was organised by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to celebrate the completion of South-east Asia's longest underground expressway.
The 12km-long KPE stretches from East Coast Parkway to Tampines Expressway. Three kilometres are already open to traffic, and the rest is scheduled to open on Saturday at 10am.
Yesterday, participants took part in either a competitive 10km race or a non-competitive 5km walk-and-run.
Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua flagged off the 10km race at 8.30am.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is the adviser to the Pasir Ris West constituency, joined participants on the 5km route.
The lights at the tunnel were also dimmed over a 1.6km stretch as some 10,500 participants in the non-competitive event switched on red battery-run lanterns to try to set a Guinness World Record for the largest lantern parade.
The previous record was set in Kiel, Germany, on Nov13, 2001, with 2,204 lanterns. Organisers still need Guinness officials to verify the record.
Participant Karen Ting, 45, who was in the lantern parade, said it was a good way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Another participant, Mr Tan Boon Chye, 56, who ran the 10km race, said he wanted to see where the speed cameras were.
However, yesterday's event was not smooth-sailing for all.
A commercial photographer engaged by the LTA collapsed at an area near the finish line. He was admitted to Changi General Hospital, and is in a stable condition.
The LTA said two or three runners felt faint and were given first aid by paramedics.
A convoy of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Lamborghini and Lotus sports cars, vintage cars and compressed natural gas taxis gave rides to children from the Rainbow Centre, and Infant Jesus Homes and Children's Centre.
The charity car rides, which were flagged off by President SR Nathan, were sponsored by some 50 companies.
After the rides, LTA chairman Michael Lim presented a $300,000 cheque to President Nathan for the President's Challenge Fund.
The soon-to-be opened portion of the tunnel spans 9km from the Pan-Island Expressway near Aljunied Road to Tampines Road.
Acting as the expressway's 'eyes' is the KPE Operations Control Centre in Airport Road.
It monitors traffic situations in the tunnel with screens that constantly switch between 103 surveillance cameras. If a vehicle breaks down, the LTA will send a traffic marshal to the site and provide a free tow.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Lighting up KPE with record lantern bid
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sumathi V. Selvaretnam
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Some 10,500 participants switched on battery-run lanterns to try to set a Guinness World Record for the largest lantern parade, at the KPE tunnel. -- PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->SOME 15,000 Singaporeans travelled through the unopened stretch of the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) tunnel on foot yesterday.
The event, called Swing KPE, was organised by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to celebrate the completion of South-east Asia's longest underground expressway.
The 12km-long KPE stretches from East Coast Parkway to Tampines Expressway. Three kilometres are already open to traffic, and the rest is scheduled to open on Saturday at 10am.
Yesterday, participants took part in either a competitive 10km race or a non-competitive 5km walk-and-run.
Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua flagged off the 10km race at 8.30am.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is the adviser to the Pasir Ris West constituency, joined participants on the 5km route.
The lights at the tunnel were also dimmed over a 1.6km stretch as some 10,500 participants in the non-competitive event switched on red battery-run lanterns to try to set a Guinness World Record for the largest lantern parade.
The previous record was set in Kiel, Germany, on Nov13, 2001, with 2,204 lanterns. Organisers still need Guinness officials to verify the record.
Participant Karen Ting, 45, who was in the lantern parade, said it was a good way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Another participant, Mr Tan Boon Chye, 56, who ran the 10km race, said he wanted to see where the speed cameras were.
However, yesterday's event was not smooth-sailing for all.
A commercial photographer engaged by the LTA collapsed at an area near the finish line. He was admitted to Changi General Hospital, and is in a stable condition.
The LTA said two or three runners felt faint and were given first aid by paramedics.
A convoy of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Lamborghini and Lotus sports cars, vintage cars and compressed natural gas taxis gave rides to children from the Rainbow Centre, and Infant Jesus Homes and Children's Centre.
The charity car rides, which were flagged off by President SR Nathan, were sponsored by some 50 companies.
After the rides, LTA chairman Michael Lim presented a $300,000 cheque to President Nathan for the President's Challenge Fund.
The soon-to-be opened portion of the tunnel spans 9km from the Pan-Island Expressway near Aljunied Road to Tampines Road.
Acting as the expressway's 'eyes' is the KPE Operations Control Centre in Airport Road.
It monitors traffic situations in the tunnel with screens that constantly switch between 103 surveillance cameras. If a vehicle breaks down, the LTA will send a traffic marshal to the site and provide a free tow.
