Soon after the expressway was completed, in 1986, there were reports of roadkill in the area. After all, a major impact of splitting what was once a contiguous forest was the stranding of animals, such as the Lesser Mousedeer and Sunda Pangolin on one side, as they could not get over to the other side to find food or mates without becoming roadkill. That also contributed to a decline in biodiversity in the area. Eventually, the Eco-Link@BKE, a “highway crossing for wildlife”, was built and completed in 2013, at a cost of $17 million. The bridge, which spans 50m across the six-lane dual carriageway, seems to be effective: The National Parks Board has motion- and temperature-sensor cameras to track animal movement, and has recorded several species.
Even as Singapore prioritises shoring up its defences against rising sea levels — a result of climate change — the city state has yet to establish a law on environmental impact assessment
SINGAPORE (Sept 30): I n 1983, work began on the Bukit Timah Expressway, a 10km highway that would significantly cut down the time it took to travel from the heart of Singapore, Bukit Timah, to the north. Owing to the hilly nature of the terrain — the route sliced through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve — explosives had to be used in part of the construction process.
