So back in May 2021, I walked from Potong Pasir to Sports Hub via the Kallang Park Connector. Today, I did the same walk which I have called “Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023” as it is slightly different this time.
There are new underpasses and new ending to this walk !
Table of Contents
The Differences in Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023
So what’s the difference in this walk today ? There are two differences.
Difference 1 : There are now 3 new underpasses along the Kallang Park Connector that has been built so we will check those out.
Difference 2 : Instead of walking to Sports Hub, I will walk to Kallang Riverside Park and end up in some funny old bridge called Crawford Bridge. Where four weirdo once walked on it..
The First Phase of Bishan-to-City Links Project has opened
So, if you read the news, there are now 3 underpasses that is in the Kallang Park Connector that is part of the first phase of Bishan-to-City project. First phase only.
However, in all honesty, it is still a disappointment that we still need to be taking a few overhead bridges in the same route as before. So there is some improvements but not enough. And it took a few good years to do these few improvements.
The first phase of the Bishan-to-City Links project in Singapore has opened, providing a seamless pedestrian and cycling route from Bishan to the city and enhancing connectivity along the Kallang River.
- The first phase of the Bishan-to-City Links project in Singapore opened on October 5, 2023.
- This project aims to revitalize areas along the Kallang River by providing a seamless pedestrian and cycling route from Bishan to the city.
- Works completed in this phase include the addition and enhancements of underpasses and signalized crossings to improve safety and convenience for pedestrians and cyclists.
- The underpass at Central Expressway has been widened and made safer for cyclists, with increased headroom and terrazzo and timber seating.
- The underpasses are decorated with 3D wall murals and copper inlays representing wildlife found in Singapore.
- Signalized crossings have been doubled in width to accommodate dedicated pedestrian and bicycle crossings.
- Other areas with improved signalized crossings include Serangoon Road, Bendemeer Road, and Sims Avenue.
- Ongoing construction work is set to be completed by the second quarter of 2024, allowing seamless walking, jogging, and cycling from Serangoon Road to Bendemeer Road.
- The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is also planning a second phase of the project, including an elevated pedestrian and cycling bridge at the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), which will be Singapore’s longest pedestrian bridge.
- The second phase will provide additional connectivity for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists along the Kallang Park Connector.
Overall, this project aims to improve connectivity along the Kallang River and create a more sustainable, car-lite, and healthier city environment in Singapore.
If you look at this diagram you can roughly see where are the improvements. I believe the three new underpasses are at (2), (5) and (6).
These are the improvements today. We can use this picture as we walk down the new Kallang Park Connector.
Parking to start off Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023
Now if you read my previous posts, I started from Bishan and walk to Potong Pasir and then from Potong Pasir to Sports Hub, all via the Kallang Park Connector, which is the main route of the walk.
So for today’s trip, I wanted to skip everything and just go straight to the new underpasses. At least the first one at Toa Payoh cum Potong Pasir.
So to do that, you can go to the Kallang Park Connector entrance at Toa Payoh Industrial Park. I parked at Blk 230, Toa Payoh Lorong 8. It is just opposite a new Police compound.
Cross the road to the police compound and walk to the left side towards Toyogo.
You can then see the entrance to the Kallang Park Connector.
You can see the famous PCN signboard 🙂
So let’s start our walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023 !
Turning into the park connector, you will see a nice walk. Peaceful.
At the junction, left turn is to go to Bishan (where we came from previously in this article) and right turn will take us down to Kallang. Where we want to go today.
And almost immediately you will see our first new underpass.
The first new underpass at CTE
This underpass takes us UNDER the Central Expressway (it will be impossible to cross over from Toa Payoh to Potong Pasir)…. Previously… there was already an underpass, but the existing Park Connector underpass with low headroom clearance.
Check out the two photos of the past.. previous height limit was 1.8m
Today, it looks so different !
Now the height limit is 2.4m and the underpass is so lovely.
Very well decorated..
With sitting too !
Just to let you know this is probably the nicest of the three new underpasses 🙂
Moving On.. we will come out of the new underpass and will be at Potong Pasir.
From Potong Pasir to PIE
So here we go.. same old sights.. maybe a little difference here and there..
The Tre Ver.. maybe their prices go up a lot more now 🙂
And you met with your first crossing at Potong Pasir. No underground pass here. Traffic lights again. There is a new Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital too.
Let’s continue our walk towards PIE along the beautiful Kallang River and St Andrew’s school compounds.
And as you reach the end of the road, you will, like before, be hit with the PIE. And no, there is NO underpass here. Bu all is not lost.. A 682m-long cycling bridge spanning a 14-lane section of the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) will be built near St Andrew’s Junior School by 2027.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Thursday called a tender to build the bridge, which will be the longest of its kind here. It will form part of a new 1.2km link that will allow pedestrians and cyclists to travel seamlessly between the park connector next to St Andrew’s Junior College and the neighbourhood park at Jalan Taman.
Straits Times
Here’s a picture of how that bridge will look like. For now, I am walking the BLUE colour line on the picture. As before. To carry on our Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023 !
So, once again, I crossed the bridge over the PIE and enjoyed the traffic..
Bypassing Moonstone Estate
Compared to the previous trip, I did not go into Moonstone Estate to reach the Kallang area. Instead, I followed the sign on the road…
This took me to Serangoon Road and then to Kallang
So back in 2021, I took the BLUE route through the Moonstone estate. Today in 2023, I took the yellow route along the main road.
Crossing Serangoon to Bendemeer
Now you can either use the overhead bridge but then there is also a nice traffic light crossing now too. These are the changes referred by the press and URA as “Serangoon Road and Bendemeer Road crossings”.
You use this bridge …
Or the new crossing..
But you are blocked (as at Oct 2023) to continue the PCN. Instead you go opposite part of the River to get to the Kallang Bahru area.
Crossing Bendemeer to Kallang Bahru
Once again, you can take the bridge to cross over Bendemeer Road to reach Kallang Bahru. I think there is another new crossing but I did not take that.
In Kallang Bahru area, it is still as beautiful as ever. The bridge and the new HDB flats.
And as we walk down the Kallang River along Kallang Bahru, we will reach the second new underpass.
Second New Underpass at Kallang Bahru
This wil be improvement marked as “3” in the diagram from Straits Times.
A new underpass at Kallang Bahru area that allows to go under the main road and reach the Jalan Besar Heritage Trail.
It is titled as “Kallang Bahru to the City”….
It is not a very long underpass and no seating here 🙂
When you crossed under the pass, turn back and see this nice view of HDB flat..
Carrying on….
It will be a walk along Kallang River towards the Pelton Canal
And two years later, I still have not walked the Pelton Canal Park Connector (the one to the left of this photo). We will turn right as usual..
The temple is not opened today during my walk so I could only do my prayers outside.
And now we come to our third new underpass at Upper Boon Keng road…..
The Third New Underpass at Upper Boon Keng
This would be point (4) of the Straits Times diagram. Another underpass.
And it is not a very long underpass too.
And yes, turning back you have Upper Boon Keng back to Bishan 🙂
And we continue our walk along Kallang River and you can see the The Riverine By The Park condo. This is important this time as we will be going towards it after we crossed the road at Kallang MRT.
That’s The Riverine By The Park in the front.
Very nice set up along the Kallang River. These are wonderful things our public sector has set up for our jogging, hiking and cycling and leisure times along the River.
And we have reached the Kallang MRT.
Now, if you looked at the Park Connector Map at Kallang MRT, it looks like it is not updated.
Yes you used to need to make that loop around Lor 1 Geylang Bus Terminal. That means, according to the map, A -> B -> C. No more now.
A much better set up is now available ! You can go directly from A to C.
Sims Avenue crossing and Geylang Road underpass
First there is now a proper crossing at Sims Avenue, right outside Kallang MRT.
Just like all the improved crossings, there are separate bicycle and pedestrians crossing lanes. But then as usual, our dearest cyclists ignored it… Some things dont change.
After crossing the new Sims Avenue traffic light, you are in this garden next to the bus terminal. Walk further and you will reach the Geylang Underpass.
This was how the underpass looked previously…
Today the new Geylang Underpass looks this way.. ha ha…. same same or not same same ?
Got improvement lah. Got a big picture okay..
Once you are out of the Geylang Underpass, you have two choices at the Kallang Riverside Park. You can carry on and will reach the Sports Hub (just like my 2021 hike).
But I am going over to the The Riverine By The Park and carry my walk over on the other side of the Kallang River.
The Riverine By The Park and Kallang Riverside Park
So I will go up to the bridge on the right side of the photo above and back to the Kallang Riverside Park just in front of The Riverine By The Park.
It is a beautiful place to walk… very enjoyable…
View of the City…..
You can see the Sports Hub on the opposite side of the Kallang River
We are at the Condo now called Kallang Riverside…
The most important thing for us is that there is a public open air car park just outside Kallang Riverside Condo. That means, if you want to come directly to this area (or even start your hike from this area to Bishan), then this car park is useful to you and me 🙂
On the google map, this is called Kampong Bugis Carpark.
And we have yet another map of the PCN:
I am just going to go to Point D or Crawford Bridge to end the PCN walk.
So the ending of PCN Kallang Riverside Park is Crawford Bridge
There is (finally) a toilet at this location
And good news, the vending machine works with contactless phones so I could use my iPhone Wallet to purchase a drink. You know, we seldom bring our wallets for hiking 🙂
So we are now coming to the end of our Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023 !
Let’s finish up our walk today……..
Final Part to Crawford Bridge
As you walk to the Point D of the map, you will see this bridge. Do not cross it. It will bring you to Marina Bay Sands area :). This bridge has a name… Rochor Link…. ?!
Instead, just walk on and there are some construction going on at this area.
And soon you will see Crawford Bridge. That’s the one in white 🙂
Tata.. End of the walk today.. and no, I am not going to climb on the Crawford Bridge
How long is the distance for Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023
The walk today is 6.31km and it took me about 1.25 hours.
Here’s the map of the whole route of Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023 !
Getting back to Toa Payoh Lorong 8
I walked a little more from Crawford Bridge to a condo called Southbank and I called a Grab Taxi there. This is so that it is easier for the grab driver to find me… Crawford Bridge does not sound like a pick up point for Grab 🙂
At Southbank, for you cyclists, might like to know there is a shop for Brompton bicycles called “Brompton Kitchen“.. although you can consider also looking at Amazon web site too.
Anyway the Grab fare from Southbank back to the original starting point at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh cost me $14.90.
Conclusion for Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023
It was a fun walk down the Kallang Park Connector for our Walking from Toa Payoh to Kallang in 2023.
It was a familar walk but with three new underpasses and a few new traffic light crossings that catered to both cyclists and pedestrians.
The unfortunate part is that we still have to use the overhead bridges for a few parts but that would be another massive project in the future.
In the meantime I was glad that I took a slightly different ending to the walk by going to Kallang Riverside Park (instead of Sports Hub) and that was so enjoyable, although it did ended at Crawford Bridge abruptly. Perhaps the next time we can go over the Rocher Link and onwards to Marina Bay Sands area and hence, finishing up the loop at Tanjong Rhu PCN.
Fun times !
