<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Bridge to ease Bugis crowds
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>To be ready by year-end, it will lessen road congestion at Illuma mall and Bugis Junction </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Debbie Yong
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->The problem will be bridged soon, bringing relief to those crossing the road from Bugis Junction to Bugis Village.
The developer of Illuma, a new mall across from Bugis Junction, has started work on an overhead bridge linking it to the Bugis Junction side of the road by year-end.
Pedestrians have long complained about being stuck in a small strip of space on the divider when crossing the road.
When pedestrian-crossing lights turn red, up to about 40 people can be held up in the 6m by 2m traffic 'island'.
'I usually try to walk as fast as I can. I don't want to be stuck in the middle and wait under the hot sun with a big group of people,' said fine arts student Candice Lee, 21, who passes by the area at least three times a week.
The human crush at the road divider has become worse with Illuma - causing some to, quite literally, stop in their tracks.
The mall's unusual design and flashy light display that runs on its exterior are causing pedestrians to slow down or even stop to take pictures while crossing the road.
'It's quite annoying. People end up walking slowly and hold up the crowd,' said sales assistant Danny Teo, 27. 'Or they don't look at where they are going and others have to avoid them. It can be quite dangerous.'
Not all thought the act was as serious though.
Said Ms Chen Kailing, 34, a restaurant manager who was spotted taking pictures with her mobile phone while standing on the island: 'I think if you do it when the lights are red and people are all standing still, it is not a problem.'
When contacted, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the staggered pedestrian crossing was implemented with the high vehicular traffic and pedestrian flow in mind.
'By implementing a two-phase crossing, we are able to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely, while maintaining traffic efficiency,' said an LTA spokesman.
The railings at the centre median are in place as a safety measure to prevent pedestrians from spilling over onto the road, he added.
Pedestrians are also advised to use an alternate crossing located 50m away at the junction of Victoria Street and Rochor Road.
But are these changes likely to improve things?
'Maybe if the overhead bridge is air-conditioned and linked to the inside of the malls, it'll be good. If not, I would rather wait with the crowd for a little longer than walk an extra distance or have to climb stairs,' said analyst Joan Poh, 34. [email protected]
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>To be ready by year-end, it will lessen road congestion at Illuma mall and Bugis Junction </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Debbie Yong
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->The problem will be bridged soon, bringing relief to those crossing the road from Bugis Junction to Bugis Village.
The developer of Illuma, a new mall across from Bugis Junction, has started work on an overhead bridge linking it to the Bugis Junction side of the road by year-end.
Pedestrians have long complained about being stuck in a small strip of space on the divider when crossing the road.
When pedestrian-crossing lights turn red, up to about 40 people can be held up in the 6m by 2m traffic 'island'.
'I usually try to walk as fast as I can. I don't want to be stuck in the middle and wait under the hot sun with a big group of people,' said fine arts student Candice Lee, 21, who passes by the area at least three times a week.
The human crush at the road divider has become worse with Illuma - causing some to, quite literally, stop in their tracks.
The mall's unusual design and flashy light display that runs on its exterior are causing pedestrians to slow down or even stop to take pictures while crossing the road.
'It's quite annoying. People end up walking slowly and hold up the crowd,' said sales assistant Danny Teo, 27. 'Or they don't look at where they are going and others have to avoid them. It can be quite dangerous.'
Not all thought the act was as serious though.
Said Ms Chen Kailing, 34, a restaurant manager who was spotted taking pictures with her mobile phone while standing on the island: 'I think if you do it when the lights are red and people are all standing still, it is not a problem.'
When contacted, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the staggered pedestrian crossing was implemented with the high vehicular traffic and pedestrian flow in mind.
'By implementing a two-phase crossing, we are able to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely, while maintaining traffic efficiency,' said an LTA spokesman.
The railings at the centre median are in place as a safety measure to prevent pedestrians from spilling over onto the road, he added.
Pedestrians are also advised to use an alternate crossing located 50m away at the junction of Victoria Street and Rochor Road.
But are these changes likely to improve things?
'Maybe if the overhead bridge is air-conditioned and linked to the inside of the malls, it'll be good. If not, I would rather wait with the crowd for a little longer than walk an extra distance or have to climb stairs,' said analyst Joan Poh, 34. [email protected]
