PUB completes Upper Bukit Timah Canal upgrade, boosting stormwater capacity by 30%公用事业局完成武吉知马运河上游升级改造，雨水处理能力提升30%。
Upgrading works along the entire 2.3km Upper Bukit Timah Canal have been completed, marking the end of a seven-year project, said national water agency PUB on Friday (Oct 23).This follows the completion of its final 900m stretch of the canal from Rifle Range Road to Jalan Kampong Chantek, near King Albert Park MRT station.Enhancements to the Upper Bukit Timah Canal,...
Upgrading works along the entire 2.3km Upper Bukit Timah Canal have been completed, marking the end of a seven-year project, said national water agency PUB on Friday (Oct 23).
This follows the completion of its final 900m stretch of the canal from Rifle Range Road to Jalan Kampong Chantek, near King Albert Park MRT station.
Enhancements to the Upper Bukit Timah Canal, spanning from Beauty World to Maple Avenue, have improved its flood resilience, allowing it to hold 30 per cent more stormwater, said PUB in a media statement.
Works on the final stretch began in October 2019 in which the once trapezoidal canal has since been widened and deepened to enhance stormwater capacity.
With its new U-shaped drain and box culvert, the upgraded canal is better equipped to handle rainfall intensities associated with major storms over the past 15 years.
'Important milestone in strengthening flood resilience'
The completion of these works marks the strengthening of flood resilience across an approximately 1,000-hectare catchment comprising homes, commercial developments — such as Beauty World Plaza, Bukit Timah Shopping Centre and Dunearn Village — and key transport nodes, including Beauty World and King Albert Park MRT stations.
The completion of the final stretch comes after enhancement works along the upstream section, from Jalan Jurong Kechil to Rifle Range Road were completed in 2024.
"The completion of upgrading works along Upper Bukit Timah Canal is an important milestone in strengthening flood resilience in one of Singapore’s most challenging catchments," said PUB’s Deputy Chief Executive (Flood Resilience) Angela Koh.
"Given Bukit Timah’s topography and land constraints and increasingly intense rainfall due to climate change, very intense storms can still overwhelm the catchment," said Koh.
Bukit Timah area has historically been prone to flooding as its land surface forms a natural basin that channels stormwater quickly into the low-lying canal.
She also said that PUB will continue to take a holistic review of the catchment to identify more integrated solutions for the longer term.
Tender for feasibility study
This includes a tender for a feasibility study at the end of 2026 to strengthen flood resilience across the entire Bukit Timah catchment as rainfall patterns become increasingly unpredictable due to climate change.
The feasibility study will assess a range of flood mitigation measures, including underground detention structures, integration with existing infrastructure and future developments as well as opportunities to enhance public spaces.
"We need to plan ahead today so that we are ready to implement the right solutions when they are needed," said Koh.
No drainage system can eliminate flood risk entirely, said PUB adding that it will continue to encourage members of public to remain vigilant during heavy rain and take appropriate steps to stay flood-ready.
The agency will launch its third annual Flood Resilience Campaign, ahead of the year-end Northeast Monsoon season, to help the public understand how flood risks may affect them and encourage everyone to take practical steps to prepare for floods.
laili.abdeen@asiaone.com
国家水务局（PUB）周五（10月23日）表示，全长2.3公里的武吉知马上运河升级改造工程已经完成，标志着为期七年的项目结束。
此前，从 Rifle Range Road 到 Jalan Kampong Chantek（靠近 King Albert Park 地铁站）的运河最后 900 米路段已经完工。
公用事业局在一份媒体声明中表示，从美世界到枫树大道的上武吉知马运河的改造工程提高了其防洪能力，使其能够容纳多 30% 的雨水。
最后一段的工程于 2019 年 10 月开始，曾经呈梯形的运河被拓宽和加深，以提高雨水排放能力。
经过升级改造，这条运河配备了新的 U 形排水沟和箱涵，能够更好地应对过去 15 年中重大风暴带来的降雨强度。
“加强防洪能力的重要里程碑”
这些工程的完成标志着约 1000 公顷流域的防洪能力得到加强，该流域包括住宅、商业开发项目（如美世界广场、武吉知马购物中心和杜尼安村）以及主要交通枢纽（包括美世界和国王阿尔伯特公园地铁站）。
最后一段的完工是在上游路段（从裕廊吉路到步枪靶场路）的改造工程于 2024 年完工之后进行的。
“武吉知马运河上游升级工程的完成，是加强新加坡最具挑战性的流域之一的防洪能力的重要里程碑，”公用事业局副局长（防洪）许安琪表示。
Koh表示：“鉴于武吉知马的地形和土地限制，以及气候变化导致降雨强度不断增加，非常强烈的暴雨仍然可能淹没集水区。”
武吉知马地区历来容易发生洪水，因为其地表形成了一个天然盆地，可以将雨水迅速导入地势低洼的运河。
她还表示，公用事业局将继续对集水区进行全面审查，以确定更具长期性的综合解决方案。
可行性研究招标
这其中包括一项可行性研究招标，目标是在 2026 年底前完成，以加强整个武吉知马流域的防洪能力，因为气候变化导致降雨模式变得越来越难以预测。
可行性研究将评估一系列防洪措施，包括地下蓄水结构、与现有基础设施和未来发展的融合，以及改善公共空间的机会。
Koh表示：“我们现在需要提前做好计划，以便在需要时能够实施正确的解决方案。”
公用事业局表示，没有任何排水系统能够完全消除洪水风险，并补充说，将继续鼓励公众在暴雨期间保持警惕，并采取适当措施做好防洪准备。
该机构将在年底东北季风季节到来之前启动第三届年度防洪韧性宣传活动，以帮助公众了解洪水风险可能对他们造成的影响，并鼓励每个人采取切实可行的措施做好防洪准备。
laili.abdeen@asiaone.com