By Christopher Tan

THE new Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE), which will link the new downtown to the western and north-eastern suburbs, is busting its budget in a big way.

With four out of six major contracts awarded, expenditure on the 5km-long underground and undersea road has already hit $3.1 billion - $600 million more than its $2.5 billion estimated price tag.

When the five-lane dual-carriageway expressway opens in 2013, it could cost between $4 billion and $5 billion, which will make it the costliest road here for years to come.

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