Pedestrians will be able to cross diagonally outside i12 Katong from Monday, 16 November 2026, when the Land Transport Authority (LTA) begins a three-month trial at the junction of Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road.
The traffic lights will give people on foot their own turn. Vehicles in every direction will have a red light at the same time, so anyone heading to the opposite corner can get there in one go. It’s called a scramble crossing, the same setup used at Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing.
Right Turn Into Joo Chiat Road Will Be Permanently Removed
From 16 November, motorists travelling along East Coast Road towards Mountbatten Road will no longer be allowed to turn right into Joo Chiat Road. The ban will stay in place after the trial ends.
In a 30 October letter to residents and businesses seen by CNA, LTA said the restriction was intended to improve traffic flow at the junction. Residents can still reach their estates by other routes.
LTA advised drivers to plan their routes ahead of time and pedestrians to follow the signals at the designated crossings. Signs will go up in advance, and wardens will be on hand on the first day to guide motorists and pedestrians.
LTA Will Track Safety and Waiting Times
Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC MP Goh Pei Ming told CNA he had seen turning vehicles come close to hitting pedestrians at the junction. He said a grassroots leader suggested the crossing, and that grassroots leaders, business representatives and LTA officers spent months working out the plans with him.
LTA said the new arrangement could mean longer waits at the lights for drivers and pedestrians. It will monitor how both groups use the junction during the trial and weigh any delays against improvements in safety and ease of crossing before deciding whether to keep the scramble crossing.
Singapore already has a scramble crossing at Robinson Road and Boon Tat Street, near Lau Pa Sat.
