ROAD widening works on a stretch of Singapore's busiest expressway - the Central Expressway (CTE) - will begin on Tuesday.

It will take the Land Transport Authority (LTA) until the end of 2009 to convert a 1.5km stretch between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 from three to four lanes.

Motorists can expect some inconvenience during this time but LTA said that it is doing all it can to minimise disruption to traffic flow.

Construction will be done such that none of the existing lanes will need to be closed for the bulk of the works.

To minimise the noise levels when these works are in progress, LTA will use noise reduction blankets on its hoardings and put noise guards on the back of machinery.

A more costly pipe jacking method will also mean that traffic need not be diverted when installing pipes running under the roads.