The Land Transport Authority is building 31 new motorcycle rain shelters under flyovers along expressways island-wide, doubling the total number from the current 29 to 60.

The rain shelter facility will benefit motorcyclists by providing refuge for them during bad weather. The space in the 60 shelters can accommodate some 1000 motorcycles at any one time.

"Motorcyclists are a group of road users who are especially vulnerable on the roads, accounting for more than half the number of road fatalities for the past few years. Rain shelters are one improvement to our land transport infrastructure to increase motorcyclist safety," said Mr. Yam Ah Mee, Chief Executive of LTA

Gim Tian Civil Engineering Pte Ltd will undertake the work at a cost of $2.58million, to be completed by end-2009.

The 31 new rain shelters will be located along five expressways -Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE), Pan Island Expressway (PIE), Seletar Expressway (SLE), and Tampines Expressway (TPE). Signs will also be posted before each shelter to alert motorcyclists of the shelter location.