PUB to build diversion canal to protect Orchard Road belt from floods

SINGAPORE - The new diversion canal will connect the upstream section of Stamford Canal, which covers Orchard Road, to the Singapore River. On completion, water collected from the upstream catchment section of the Stamford Canal will flow into the new diversion canal towards Singapore River and then into Marina Reservoir.


Get the full story from The Straits Times.

PUB TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION OF STAMFORD DIVERSION CANAL More drainage improvement projects to commence in second half of 2014

Singapore, 22 May 2014 - PUB, the national water agency will begin construction work for the Stamford Diversion Canal in the third quarter of 2014. The Stamford Diversion Canal, together with the Stamford Detention Tank, is part of a holistic "source-pathway-receptor" approach to strengthen flood protection for the Stamford Canal Catchment, which covers the Orchard Road shopping belt.

The new 2km-long diversion canal will run underneath the road, from Tanglin along Grange Road, across Hoot Kiam Road, through Irwell Bank Road, River Valley Road, off Kim Seng Road, and to the Singapore River. Connecting the upstream section of Stamford Canal to the Singapore River, the diversion canal will be 6m to 14m wide and 3m to 4m deep. Stormwater from the upstream section of Stamford Canal catchment will flow into the new diversion canal towards Singapore River and eventually into the Marina Reservoir.

The construction work for the diversion canal will be carried out in two phases. The first phase (Tanglin and Kim Seng areas) will be carried out by Or Kim Peow Contractors (Pte) Ltd at S$50.6 million and will start in the third quarter of 2014, while a tender for the second phase (Grange Road to River Valley Road) has been called. Work on the entire diversion canal is expected to be completed in 2017.

The other measure to enhance flood protection for the Stamford Canal catchment is the construction of a detention tank near the junction of Tyersall Avenue and Tyersall Road. PUB started construction work for the Stamford Detention Tank in December 2013. With a storage capacity of about 38,000 cubic metres or 15 Olympic sized swimming pools, the underground detention tank, when completed in 2016, will capture excess stormwater from the drains along Holland Road. After the rain subsides, the water will be pumped back into the drains for subsequent discharge into the Marina Reservoir.

Works for the diversion canal will be carried out in close proximity to the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) construction sites for the Orchard Boulevard and Great World MRT stations. PUB and LTA have been working closely to coordinate the works. During construction, there will be traffic diversions at a stretch of Grange Road at the junction of Orchard Boulevard and River Valley Road off Kim Seng Road. Roads will remain accessible and the same number of lanes will be maintained. PUB and LTA will plan the diversions carefully to minimise inconvenience and disruption to the public and stakeholders in the vicinity.

Hoardings will be installed to demarcate the work zone, and earth control measures will be put in place to prevent silt discharge. We will also ensure at all times that the noise level is kept within allowable limits.

Enhancing Stormwater Management with Drainage Improvement Projects

Apart from the Stamford Diversion Canal and Stamford Detention Tank, PUB has ongoing and upcoming drainage improvement projects at about 170 locations around Singapore. Projects at 25 locations have been completed from January to April this year.

"To enable Singapore to cope with more intense rainfall, we have adopted a holistic stormwater management approach to mitigate flood risks by strengthening the drainage infrastructure and managing stormwater at "source" and where floods may occur. We are progressing well on the ongoing drainage improvement projects, while plans for new projects are being developed for implementation in the second half of 2014. We will also continue to work with the developers and building owners on implementing "source measures" to slow down the flow of stormwater into the public drainage system and "receptor measures" to protect the buildings against floods," said Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB's Director of Catchment and Waterways.

Ongoing Projects

At the Rochor Canal, works have been substantially completed with the canal already widened and deepened, while the incorporation of Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) design features and landscaping works are in progress. The entire project is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2014.

At the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal, current works include the construction of a new culvert across Ulu Pandan Road (near Pine Grove) and upgrading of the canal between Maple Ave and Holland Green. Works are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2016 respectively.

Ongoing improvement works at the Alexandra Canal (between Zion Road and Kim Seng Road) and Geylang River (between Geylang Road and Paya Lebar Way) are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015 respectively.

For the Chai Chee Road area, PUB has completed the re-construction of the drains in front of the Technopark @ Chai Chee and along New Upper Changi Road. Other improvement works along Chai Chee Road will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014.

To enhance flood protection to the area served by Sungei Pandan Kechil, PUB will be widening and deepening about 600m of the canal between AYE and West Coast Road, and upgrading 65m of the covered drain from Blk 610 Clementi West Street 1 to the canal. Construction works for the canal has commenced and expected to be completed by 2017.

Upcoming projects

Several new drainage improvement projects including the Siglap Canal and the Alexandra Canal Subsidiary Drain "F" will commence in the second half of 2014.

The Siglap Canal will be upgraded in phases. The first phase will cover the section from East Coast Parkway to the sea, where the canal will be deepened and widened by 2017.

A subsidiary drain (between Tiong Bahru Road and Outram Road) of Alexandra Canal will be upgraded alongside an ABC Waters project. Additional communal spaces with ABC Waters design features to cleanse the stormwater runoff will be incorporated as part of the design. The project is expected to be completed in 2016.

The full list of drainage improvement projects can be found at: http://www.pub.gov.sg/managingflashfloods/FMS/Pages/ImprovementWorks.aspx

Continual review of Singapore's waterways

A new publication "Managing Stormwater for Our Future" by PUB gives an overview of PUB's stormwater management strategies, approach and requirements that will help prepare Singapore for the future. It also outlines plans for 12 waterways in Singapore, which is part of the periodic reviews conducted by PUB to identify solutions to improve flood protection for the catchments of the waterways. The publication is available at: http://www.pub.gov.sg/managingflashfloods/Documents/ManagingStormwater.pdf

 

Annex I: Location Map of the Stamford Diversion Canal and Stamford Detention Tank

The Stamford Diversion Canal and Stamford Detention Tank will divert the stormwater in the upstream section away from the mid-section of the Stamford Canal catchment which runs through the Orchard Road shopping belt, reducing flood risks in the area. The upstream section is equivalent to 240 hectares or about one-third of the entire Stamford Canal catchment.

About 630 hectares in size, the Stamford Canal catchment serves a wide mix of developments including residential units, office buildings, hotels, and the Orchard Road shopping belt. The catchment captures stormwater from areas such as Holland Road, Napier Road, Nassim Hill and Cuscaden in the upstream; Orchard Road and Handy Road at the midstream; and parts of Clemenceau Avenue, Stamford Road and Beach Road in the downstream section, before finally discharging into Marina Reservoir.

The Orchard Road is a valley in the mid-section of this catchment area, bounded by higher ground to the north of Orchard Road (i.e. Mount Elizabeth area); and to the south (i.e. Leonie Hill area). The elevated terrains create a basin between Cuscaden and Cairnhill Roads.