Ashford Walkway Tunnel

The Ashford Walkway Tunnel (AWT) is a walkway tunnel that travels from Block 507 Tampines Central 1 all the way to Tampines Court. The route passes by Tampines Street 12, Tampines Street 11, together with Block 140 Tampines Street 12.

This is the second tunnel to be built, after numerous underground passageways in Raffles Place, and also CityLink Mall that was being built in 2000.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the contract to built a walkway flyover at the Tampines Street 11/MRT portion, providing a more direct link to Simei, reducing congestion and the underpass was being built at PIE intersection, going towards Simei Street 1. Construction works commenced in second quarter of 2015 and is scheduled for completion by third quarter of 2019.

Construction works began in 2004. In 26 October 2007, the section from Block 161 all the way to Ashford opened. Later on, in 20 September 2008, construction works all the way to Block 123 were opened, together with the surface viaduct as it was widened. On 19 August 2010, the section of Block 123 was paved for their new MRT station, which is Block 123 Station. On 21 December 2012, the walkway tunnel all the way to Block 507 opened to traffic.

It also showcased the gallery of bus stop poles which is the evolution over the years from Block 157 all the way to Block 123, since bus stop poles were replaced in 2009-10.

Other walkway tunnels that are opened include Tampines West Tunnel (opened on 14 May 2015) and Bukit Panjang Tunnel (opened on 22 December 2015).

Public Education
In 2006, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) engaged an advertising agency to embark on a public education programme, to inform and educate the public on the proper way to use the KPE – the first time it has done so for a road project. British firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) has been appointed to publicise safety messages needed to prepare users for the KPE. BBH, which in turn appointed British public relations firm Grayling, clinched the contract for S$2.81 million. Its campaign started in the second quarter of 2007, consisting of a website and an album Sounds of the Underground of ten songs for the purpose.

The LTA has also put up a tender calling for consultants to develop congestion management systems in the AWT. The call has drawn three submissions. It also rolled out the first dedicated team of Traffic Marshals, with the primary role of rapid deployment to any incident within the tunnels. The annual contract was awarded to Certis CISCO, who would deploy six marshals on motorcycles around the clock in the AWT, to be expanded to 28 motorcycles and three cars across all expressways by end 2008.