Upper Bukit Timah Canal upgrade completed, boosting flood resilience with 30% more capacity

PUB will also study longer-term flood mitigation measures for the wider Bukit Timah catchment, including underground detention structures to temporarily store excess stormwater.

A view of the newly completed expansion of the Upper Bukit Timah Canal next to Bukit Timah Road, Oct 23, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

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SINGAPORE: The entire 2.3km Upper Bukit Timah Canal has been upgraded, boosting its capacity to carry stormwater by 30 per cent and strengthening flood resilience in one of Singapore's most flood-prone catchments.

The completion of works on the final 900m stretch, which began in 2019, marks the end of a series of upgrades to the canal, national water agency PUB said on Friday (Oct 23).

The enhanced drainage capacity will benefit an approximately 1,000-hectare catchment encompassing residential and commercial developments, as well as key transport nodes.

The newly completed stretch runs from Rifle Range Road to Jalan Kampong Chantek, near King Albert Park MRT station. The approximately S$60 million upgrade also included the construction of structural supports for the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor within the canal.

As part of the works, the canal was widened and deepened, with its original trapezoidal profile converted into a U-shaped drain and box culvert to increase its capacity.

Upgrading works on the upstream section, between Jalan Jurong Kechil and Rifle Range Road, were completed in 2024.

With the entire canal now upgraded, PUB said it is better equipped to handle rainfall intensities comparable to those experienced over the past 15 years.

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The newly completed expansion of Upper Bukit Timah Canal next to Bukit Timah Road, Oct 23, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

However, very intense storms could still overwhelm the drainage system, given Bukit Timah's challenging topography, land constraints and increasingly intense rainfall brought about by climate change.

To address these longer-term risks, PUB plans to call a tender at the end of 2026 for a feasibility study into further flood resilience measures across the wider Bukit Timah catchment.

The study will explore options such as underground detention structures, which can temporarily store excess stormwater during heavy rain.

It will also examine how such measures could be integrated with existing infrastructure and future developments, while identifying 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 PUB deputy chief executive for flood resilience Angela Koh.

A LONG HISTORY OF FLOOD MITIGATION

Bukit Timah has long been prone to flooding, with its valley-like topography forming a natural basin that channels stormwater quickly into the low-lying canal.

Urban development has added to the challenge by increasing surface runoff into the drainage network, while space constraints limit opportunities to expand the canal further.

"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," Ms Koh said.

Over the decades, PUB has progressively expanded and upgraded drainage infrastructure in the area to reduce flood risks.

Two diversion canals, completed in 1972 and 1990, were built to divert stormwater to other waterways. The first diversion canal was later upgraded between 2012 and 2019 , while part of the main Bukit Timah Canal was expanded in 2013.

A section of the Upper Bukit Timah Canal near Jalan Jambu Ayer in 2020. The canal had a trapezoidal cross-section at the time. (Photo: PUB)

Despite these improvements, flash floods have continued to affect the area during heavy downpours.

The final 900m stretch of the Upper Bukit Timah Canal upgrade was originally slated for completion in 2024, but the timeline was extended to 2026 to coordinate construction with the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor.

A workers puts on a safety vest near the exit of King Albert Park MRT station in the vicinity of Upper Bukit Timah Canal, Oct 23, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

PUB said construction was further complicated by the narrow working space between Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road. Traffic had to be progressively diverted, with replacement lanes provided to create temporary work areas.

Works were also restricted to between 9.30am and 4.30pm to minimise disruption, while the canal's proximity to underground MRT lines added to the challenge. The project was also affected by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Collectively, these factors added complexity and affected the pace of construction," said PUB's director of the catchment & waterways department Maurice Neo.

PUB said no drainage system can eliminate flood risk entirely and urged the public to remain vigilant during periods of heavy rain.

Ahead of the year-end Northeast Monsoon season, the agency will also launch its third annual Flood Resilience Campaign to raise awareness of flood risks and encourage people to take practical steps to prepare.

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公用事业局还将研究武吉知马流域更长期的防洪措施，包括建造地下蓄水池以暂时储存多余的雨水。

2026年10月23日，武吉知马路旁新建成的武吉知马运河上游扩建工程竣工一览。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

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新加坡：全长 2.3 公里的武吉知马上运河已完成升级改造，使其雨水排放能力提高了 30%，增强了新加坡最易受洪水侵袭的流域之一的防洪能力。

国家水务局（PUB）周五（10月23日）表示，自2019年开始的最后900米河段的工程竣工，标志着运河一系列升级改造工程的结束。

增强的排水能力将使约 1000 公顷的集水区受益，该集水区涵盖住宅和商业开发项目以及重要的交通枢纽。

新建成的路段从步枪靶场路 (Rifle Range Road) 延伸至甘榜占德路 (Jalan Kampong Chantek)，靠近国王阿尔伯特公园地铁站 (King Albert Park MRT station)。这项耗资约 6000 万新元的升级改造工程还包括在运河内建造武吉知马-罗卓绿色走廊的结构支撑。

作为工程的一部分，运河被拓宽加深，其原有的梯形轮廓被改造成 U 形排水沟和箱涵，以增加其通行能力。

位于 Jalan Jurong Kechil 和 Rifle Range Road 之间的上游路段的升级改造工程已于 2024 年完成。

公用事业局表示，随着整个运河的升级改造，它现在更有能力应对与过去 15 年经历的降雨强度相当的降雨。

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2026年10月23日，武吉知马路旁的武吉知马运河上游扩建工程竣工。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

然而，鉴于武吉知马地形复杂、土地资源有限以及气候变化带来的降雨强度不断增加，强烈的暴雨仍然可能使排水系统不堪重负。

为了应对这些长期风险，公用事业局计划在 2026 年底进行招标，对武吉知马流域更广泛的防洪措施进行可行性研究。

该研究将探讨诸如地下滞洪设施之类的方案，这些设施可以在暴雨期间暂时储存过多的雨水。

它还将研究如何将这些措施与现有基础设施和未来发展相结合，同时寻找改善公共空间的机会。

“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，”公用事业局负责防洪工作的副局长许安琪表示。

悠久的防洪历史

武吉知马长期以来都容易发生洪水，其山谷状的地形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。

城市发展加剧了这一挑战，增加了流入排水网络的地表径流，而空间限制又限制了进一步扩建运河的机会。

“武吉知马运河上游沿岸升级工程的完成，是加强新加坡最具挑战性流域之一的防洪能力的重要里程碑，”许女士说。

几十年来，公用事业局逐步扩大和升级了该地区的排水基础设施，以降低洪水风险。

两条分流渠分别于1972年和1990年建成，用于将雨水引流至其他水道。第一条分流渠后来在2012年至2019年间进行了升级改造，而武吉知马运河主干的一部分则于2013年进行了扩建。

2020年，上武吉知马运河靠近Jalan Jambu Ayer路段的景象。当时运河的横截面呈梯形。（图片：公用事业局）

尽管情况有所改善，但暴雨期间该地区仍会遭受山洪暴发的困扰。

武吉知马运河上游升级改造工程的最后 900 米路段原计划于 2024 年完工，但为了与武吉知马-罗卓绿色走廊的建设协调，工期延长至 2026 年。

2026年10月23日，一名工人在武吉知马上段运河附近的国王阿尔伯特公园地铁站出口处穿上安全背心。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

公用事业局表示，武吉知马路和杜尼安路之间狭窄的施工空间进一步增加了施工难度。交通不得不逐步改道，并设置替代车道以创建临时施工区域。

为尽量减少对公众的影响，施工时间被限制在上午9:30至下午4:30之间。此外，运河毗邻地铁线路，也增加了施工难度。新冠疫情也对该项目造成了影响。

“总而言之，这些因素增加了施工的复杂性，并影响了施工进度，”公用事业局集水区和水道部门主管 Maurice Neo 表示。

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，并敦促公众在暴雨期间保持警惕。

在年末东北季风季节到来之前，该机构还将启动第三届年度防洪韧性运动，以提高人们对洪水风险的认识，并鼓励人们采取切实可行的措施做好准备。

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