LTA expected to begin road works for S'pore GP race circuit next month

BEFORE the glamour and glitz, a year of hard work lies ahead.

The task of getting the Marina Bay street circuit ready for Singapore's inaugural Formula One race starts next month - 12 months ahead of the Sept 26-28 race weekend.

With about 70 per cent of the proposed circuit made up of existing roads, top of the to-do list is the construction of a new 1.2km road that will form the route's eastern section.

It will run parallel to the shoreline under the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, and will also be where the Start-Finish line is.

Organisers have submitted the 5.05km race route, slightly shorter than the 5.26km one initially proposed, to the Federation Internationale de Automobile (FIA), motorsports' world governing body, for approval.

When the green light is given, the Land Transport Authority will begin road works, expected to be some time next month.

Meanwhile, the design for the paddock building, which will house the control tower, garages for the race teams, hospitality lounges and press room, is being finalised by organisers.

Another construction project being planned is a vehicular-cum-pedestrian underpass and service road leading to the pit building.

The road's use is believed to be restricted to emergency vehicles and those ferrying VIPS.

A stretch of the promenade between the Marina Bay pontoon's existing seating gallery and platform on water also needs to be widened, so that F1 cars can pass in front of the gallery.

In addition, a section of Raffles Boulevard from Nicoll Highway to Temasek Avenue also needs widening.

It is understood that most of the road works will be done at night to minimise disruption in the area.

Said Lim Neo Chian, deputy chairman and chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board: "I am pleased that the planning for the race is progressing well."

Singapore GP deputy chairman Colin Syn is excited to see that plans are being put into action.

"The sheer scale of the task required is simply staggering, but the support that we've received from all the government agencies involved has been tremendous," he said.