Motorists travelling to New Bridge Road will be able to breathe easier soon with the opening of the new vehicular viaduct on Dec 28, 1pm.

The viaduct enables motorists travelling to New Bridge Road to bypass four busy junctions along Cross Street. The road junctions are at Telok Ayer Street, Cecil Street, Robinson Road and Raffles Quay.

Motorists will be able to access the viaduct via the up-ramp at Central Boulevard. However, motorcycles and vehicles that exceed safety restrictions below are not allowed to access the viaduct.

The safety restrictions are:

• Speed limit on viaduct: 50 km/h
• Maximum vehicle weight: 2.5 tonnes
  
• Height limit on viaduct: 3.2 m from Central Boulevard up-ramp
  
• Height limit beneath viaduct: 4.5 m

They are advised to plan their route in advance if they are heading to China Street as the only route to access is via Pickering Street.

The other two up-ramps from Raffles Quay and Robinson Road will be opened in two subsequent phases in early 2009. Details will be announced at a later date.

Cross Street road will remain open for access to all slip roads except China Street.

The viaduct will serve to alleviate traffic congestion during the construction period of the Downtown Line.

There will also be a change of traffic flow at China Street. The current one-way traffic at China Street will be converted to partial two-way traffic to cater to motorists accessing China Street from Pickering Street.

The change of traffic flow will also take effect from Dec 28 at 1pm.

All vehicles will exit from China Street into Pickering Street and there will be no exit from China Street into Cross Street.

The partial two-way traffic flow will be in operation for about six months.

During this period, motorists are advised to be vigilant to the directional signage put up along Cross Street.