The Marina Coastal Expressway (Abbreviation: MCE) is the ninth of Singapore's network of expressways. Construction for the MCE began in 2008 and was completed at the end of 2013.[1][2] The expressway was officially opened on 28 December that year by Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo in the presence of Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong,[3] and was opened for vehicular traffic the next day.[4][5]
The expressway comprises a 3.5-kilometre (2.2-mile)tunnel, while the rest are at grade or depressed, with a view of the Singapore Strait.[6] The tunnel includes a 420-metre (460-yard) stretch that travels under the seabed, 150 metres (160 yards) away from the Marina Barrage. This had posed particular engineering challenges in the tunnel construction as large amounts of water were let out from the barrage from time to time.[7] At its deepest point, the expressway lies about 20 metres (66ft) under the seabed.[2]
The 5-kilometre (3.1-mile) long MCE is Singapore's most expensive expressway. On 28 April 2009, the Land Transport Authority revealed that it has awarded about S$4.1 billion worth of contracts, much more than the initial estimate of $2.5 billion.[8] The construction of the MCE also required undersea dredging. More than 22 hectares (54 acres) of land was reclaimed to build the MCE.[2] In contrast, the KPE, which is 12 kilometres (7.5mi) and has portions running under canals and rivers, cost only $1.74 billion.
A video of the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) taken from a car travelling in an east-to-west direction towards Tuas, from Exit 14B of the East Coast Parkway to where the MCE joins the Ayer Rajah Expressway
According to Today, the MCE first appeared in a plan to redevelop the Marina Bay area.[12] In March 2006, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced a 5 kilometres (3.1mi) extension of the Kallang–Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) from its interface with the East Coast Parkway (ECP), and will join the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE). The extension was called the "Marina Coastal Expressway", though the LTA stressed that they intend it to be an extension of the KPE.[13] Earlier in the month, the LTA invited companies to submit feasibility studies.[12] Feasibility studies on the MCE were conducted,[13] and were in the final stages by February 2007.[14][15] Then Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced in July 2007 that approval had been given for the construction of the MCE at a cost of S$2.5 billion(2007)(US$1.66 billion).[16][17] To construct the MCE, which was expected to start in 2008 and finish by the end of 2013, 13.3 hectares (33 acres) of land in Marina East and Marina Wharf would have to be reclaimed.[18][19]
In October 2008, the LTA awarded two contracts out of six planned contracts for the MCE: a S$669.7 million(2008)(US$473.33 million) contract for Penta-Ocean Construction to design and construct a vehicular tunnel, as well as a S$732.6 million(2008)(US$517.79 million) contract for Sato Kogyo and Daelim Industrial for tunnels and roads.[20] By November, another two contracts were awarded to Ssangyong Engineering & Construction and Samsung C&T,[21] with the latter to build 950 metres (1,040yd) of tunnels for S$716.4 million(2008)(US$506.34 million).[22] However, the cost of the MCE ballooned to S$3.1 billion(2008)(US$2.19 billion), with increased engineering requirements since the Nicoll Highway Collapse in 2004 and poor soil conditions influencing the increased cost according to The Straits Times.[21] In the same month, the LTA awarded Samsung a S$634.8 million(2008)(US$448.67 million) contract to design and build a 800 metres (870yd) twin-cell box vehicular tunnel and a slip tunnel, as well as a ventilation building and land reclamation works in Marina East.[22][23]
The expressway, which includes Singapore's first undersea tunnel, links the East Coast Parkway and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway to Marina South and Ayer Rajah Expressway and opened to traffic on 29 December 2013.[24][25] After the MCE was opened, the segment of the ECP between Central Boulevard and Benjamin Sheares Bridge was downgraded to become Sheares Avenue. The segment of the ECP between the AYE and Central Boulevard was permanently demolished.[26] The first few days of operations was plagued by heavy traffic congestion due to drivers' unfamiliarity with the expressway as well as connections with other roads and expressways. There was reportedly heavier than usual traffic, compared to using the old route via ECP, on 29 December 2013, the first day the MCE opened. The situation was exacerbated on the next day with the Monday morning peak hour traffic. However, the majority of drivers are aware of the road changes.[27][28] On 28 September 2014, with the road changes in Marina South area, the Prince Edward Road exit was removed and was replaced by Straits Boulevard exit with the ERP gantry being relocated from Prince Edward Road to Straits Boulevard.[29]
1 2 "KPE to be extended to link up with AYE". The Straits Times. p.H4. The plan is to extend the KPE from its current southernmost point at the East Coast Parkway (ECP) near Fort Road towards Marina East, where the new NTUC 18-hole golf course is being built. 'It will skirt along the golf course and cross Marina Bay over to Marina South,' LTA deputy chief executive T.S. Low told The Straits Times yesterday. 'From there, it will merge with the AYE where the ECP currently interfaces with the AYE.' This will add 5km to the 12km KPE. No details on cost and completion time were available, as the method of construction has yet to be determined. 'We can go either above ground or underground,' Mr Low said. 'We are still doing engineering studies to see which is the most cost-effective way.' If it goes underground (and under the bay), the bill could come up to $750 million, based on the per kilometre cost of the $1.8 billion KPE. A surface road will be less costly and faster to build, but could require more space... The LTA has labelled the project the Marina Coastal Expressway, but Mr Low said that is 'just a working name'.
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