NATIONAL water agency PUB will install a water-level sensor, which will warn of rising water levels in Bukit Timah Canal, near Blackmore Drive next week.

It said yesterday that if the water level rises above a certain level, it will notify the Traffic Police and the managements of nearby condominiums.

This comes after Bukit Timah was flooded by 110mm of rain last Thursday, causing a 3km-long diversion canal linked to the main canal to overflow.

Parts of Bukit Timah, including the area between Third Avenue and Coronation Road, were deluged with water up to knee level.

The underground carparks of three buildings in the area were flooded, damaging several cars parked there.

PUB also said yesterday that the diversion canal, which stretches from Sixth Avenue to Sungei Ulu Pandan, will be expanded in two phases.

In the first phase, drainage improvements works will be carried out along a stretch of Bukit Timah Canal between Wilby Road and the mouth of the diversion canal.

Work on this will begin in the third quarter of next year, and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2012.

The diversion canal will then be widened and deepened in the second phase, which is slated to begin in 2011.

Work had also started in May this year to widen and deepen an outlet drain running along Jalan Haji Alias. This is expected to be finished by February 2011.

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