F1 Road Closure

A mammoth challenge in traffic logistics awaits even before the first Formula 1 car can whizz past on streets here. Over 12 days, from September 20 to the early hours of October 2, various roads in the Central Business District (CBD) will be closed to traffic at various times.

For months, the authorities have been putting together the complex plan - which takes into account the thousands rushing to work in the city in the mornings - in consultation with stakeholders, such as the area’s landlords. And last week, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) unveiled its latest traffic blueprint to stakeholders during a closed-door briefing. The final version will be confirmed later.

The first road closures will take place as early as the weekend before the three-day SingTel Singapore Grand Prix: Access to St Andrew’s Road and Connaught Drive will be restricted, while a part of Raffles Avenue will be closed.

During the weekdays, the issue gets trickier - from September 23 to 25, Tuesday to Thursday, parts of St Andrew’s Road, Connaught Drive, Raffles Avenue, Raffles Boulevard, Esplanade Drive and Republic Boulevard will be closed at certain times.

Access to some roads in the Suntec City/Millenia Walk area will be restricted. But city denizens going into work will have a four-and-a-half hour window in the mornings, during which key thoroughfares such as Esplanade Drive, Republic Boulevard and Raffles Avenue will reopen.

On the three race days...

The morning window will also be open on Friday, the first day of the Grand Prix which will be given over to two practice runs at night: From 7pm to 8.30pm, and 9.30pm to 11pm.

So, from Friday night and over the next two days - qualifiers are on Saturday, and the night race flags off at 8pm on Sunday - many of the roads will be closed off or be for restricted access only, including Nicoll Highway. Even after the race ends, there is work to be done dismantling the barriers, fences, gates and barriers around the circuit.

This means on Monday, September 29, the race circuit will be closed off - except for the morning and evening peak hours, when major thoroughfares such as Esplanade Drive and a section of Raffles Boulevard will be open to traffic. From September 30, only Republic Boulevard, St Andrew’s Road and Connaught Drive will have restricted access. All roads should be accessible after 5am on October 2.

Why the staggered road closures over so many days?

Monaco, which is the only other street circuit on the F1 calendar, keeps some sections of the roads within the race circuits open during the preparations. With this being the Republic’s first effort in hosting the race, organisers are understandably making safety their top priority.

Hence, the meticulous preparations in setting up grandstands, safety barriers, debris fences and gates — work which will commence in mid-August. After the race, all this has to be dismantled and the road cleared of debris.

Access to buses, taxis

With such a myriad of road closures and diversions on different days and at different times, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be printing half a million brochures to explain them to motorists, commuters and visitors. The material will cite designated shuttle bus and taxi pick-up and drop-off points.

During closures, public bus services will be diverted to nearby roads. Bridging bus services will bring commuters from City Hall MRT station to Suntec and Bugis Junction; these will run except during the races.

The public can also catch taxis at Suntec City Tower 1 (facing Nicoll Highway), Tower 2 and Tower 3, except on race days. Cabs can enter restricted roads only if their passengers have vehicle access passes. The LTA will work with taxi operators to provide their drivers with specific routes to ply during the road closures.

MRT train stations, meanwhile, conveniently located at City Hall, Raffles Place and Bugis, will also give commuters walking access to the nearby offices and race circuit. While businesses and Singaporeans welcomed the F1 race, reactions seemed mixed about the extent of the road closures.