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FINALLY, the long anticipated $40 million works that will give Singapore's top shopping street the shine will begin on April 28. The facelift is expected to be completed by next February.
Seven construction teams will be working on various sections of the 2km-long pedestrian mall at the same time to speed up the upgrading process.
When Singapore Tourism Board first announced the detailed plans, the makeover was to have started in February, after Chinese New Year. But, works stalled because some mall owners were unhappy about certain aspects of the proposed works.
However, STB announced on Friday that construction will begin on April 28. Hoarding will first come up at buildings like Ngee Ann City, Orchard Parade Hotel and Singapore Visitors Centre. Others like Marriot Hotel and Tang Plaza will also be covered in the first phase of works that will last 10 weeks.
STB director of tourism shopping and dining Andrew Phua said all the businesses affected have been informed at a meeting on Wednesday.
He said: 'We wanted to ensure that everyone has been informed and that all of us are on the same page.'
He added that most of the concerns expressed by the mall owners had been ironed out before the works schedule was finalised. One of the key concerns was that the works may disrupt two mega sales: the Great Singapore Sale which begins on May 23 and the year-end Christmas.
To make sure that the mall owners would not be disadvantaged, STB will allow them to use the hoarding as advertising billboards to show that they are still in business. The hired contractor has also promised to minimise disruption to pedestrian access points to the malls, Mr Phua said.
For malls like Ngee Ann City, STB has rearranged the works schedule to accommodate its its request of having the works done sooner than later.
The $40 million facelift, announced last October, will see new plants and flowers, as well as street furniture and lighting added to the thoroughfare which will be themed along the lines of fruit, flower and forest.
Works involved repaving sections of the pedestrian mall from Tanglin Mall to Le Meridien Hotel and the right-most lane will be closed to create a wider walkway in front of Ion Orchard, Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and the Meritus Mandarin hotel. As they will be carried out in sections, every building owner has been informed of the exact schedule of when their property will be affected and for how long.
Each section of works is expected to last up to 10 weeks.
STB's Mr Phua said: 'When completed, locals and visitors will enjoy a much enhanced street level experience when they stroll along Orchard Road.'
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