Have you ever been on your way to work or somewhere and hit a bad traffic jam on the expressway? Did it make you wish there was another expressway for people to use or perhaps your city or state would consider opening more lanes for drivers to use? Everyone has been there at some point, all around the world. Well, Singapore has decided to do something about this annoying kind of situation. As if Singapore’s highways were not interesting enough, the country has opened the new Marina Coastal Expressway to motorists. Take a look at the new expressway is about!

What is the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE)?

The MCE is an expressway connecting the southern end of the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) and the conjunction it has with the ECP (East Coast Parkway) to the eastern end of Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), the expressway is a total of 5 kilometers. Importantly, it serves to connect both the western and eastern parts of Singapore to the New Downtown. Home, office and recreational commuting are sufficiently handled thanks to five lanes in both directions. Uniquely, it travels 459 yards under the seabed, making it the first undersea tunnel in Singapore. The deepest point under the seabed is 66ft. It is also the widest road tunnel in Singapore now.

What is the History of the MCE?

The expressway began construction in 2008 and finished at the end of 2013. It is hands down the most expensive expressway in Singapore. Although there was an initial estimation of $2.5 billion, it received an incredible worth of $4.1 billion in contracts. It opened for the first time on 29 December 2013.

Does the MCE Affect Anything?

With traffic channeling to the MCE, stretches of other expressways are expected to be converted to arterial roads. Some will even be expunged. This gives back land space that is valuable to support future development opportunities if Marina South’s downtown. The east and west side of Singapore is no longer divided. New Downtown businesses will see more business since the MCE provides a high-speed link to the city.

Do MCE Drivers Have Complaints?

The day after the expressway opened, heavy jams occurred that resulted in drivers being stuck for an hour. These jams were reportedly due to drivers being unfamiliar with the connections between the MCE and other expressways and roads. However, it is expected that jam complaints will not last long. As time goes by, drivers will become more familiar with the new expressway system to prevent slow traffic flow. This is also supported by the available 5 lanes drivers can use.

A New and Bright Driving System for Singapore

New road developments can be exciting or disastrous for motorists. Singapore’s newest expressway now provides motorists a way, from both eastern and western sides, to reach the New Downtown with the convenience of five open lanes. Although there have been some complaints, it is expected to make driving easy and enjoyable. If anything, its undersea characteristic will be interesting to experience!