No_9_September_1969 — Page 31

Civil engineering and public works

Singapore reclamation: More land from the sea

NEXT year when the East Coast Re- clamation project of Singapore is fully completed, Singapore will have reclaim- ed approximately 1,000 acres of land from the sea along six miles of coastline from Bedkok to Tanjong Rhu.

The project was launched way back in 1964 after the Government realised the magnitude of the fast growing po-

Site plan of the reclamation scheme

Far East BUILDER, September 1969

pulation and vehicular traffic problems emerging rapidly in Singapore.

In 1947, the population of Sing- apore was only 0.94 million. But, as a fast growing and bustling city, it has now grown to over two million with 80 per cent of the population living in the urban area which embraces 25 per cent of the Singapore land of 225 per cent of the Singapore land of 225

KONO

MGA DAROVI

sq. miles. Despite the decline in the birth rate by one third during the past ten years and its continued downward trend, the population is still expected to reach four million by the year 2000 with not less than half a million vehi- cles.

The Government directed the Hous- ing & Development Board in 1964 to proceed with the project after detailed studies had revealed that this scheme was not only feasible but economically sound based on a preliminary estimate before the contract was called. Such a project will make land available for the very rapid economic development in Singapore and for accommodating a major coastal traffic route along the edge of reclaimed land directly into the City area.

Reclamation work

Reclamation work commenced in April 1966 after the contract was awarded to a Japanese contractor. The contract requires:

(a) The 6 miles of coastline from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu to be reclaimed yielding approximately 1,000 acres;

(b) The maximum distance out to

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