KPE Tunnel

[netkr0]

a rider here, hate the KPE 2 though not a frequent user. hopefully they built a better vent system along the tunnel.

[chris 525]

Once the extension under Marina Bay is finished, I reckon the KPE tunnel will be the world's longest road tunnel

[DeusExMachina]

Once the extension under Marina Bay is finished, I reckon the KPE tunnel will be the world's longest road tunnel

 

Longer than these?

 

http://www.lotsberg.net/data/tun10.html

 

Laerdal tunnel in Norway: 24.5km

[pasir]

did a couple of measures recently. inside and outside tunnel temp difference is 7 to 8 C. If outside 30+, wah.... inside will be close to 40 or over. i wonder if it is a safety issue with the heat. the vent fans seem to take hot air from outisde and blow into tunnel and not the other way around. i wonder why? i suppose wait for some unfortunate accident, got fire and then whole tunnel gets supper heated and............then someone will take notice and do something about it.

[GuiNNeSS]

Wow!

Deja vu!

 

Saw this thread and remembered the last (and really the last time ever) I used that tunnel.

Was with my riding buddies and decided to take this tunnel as a shortcut to avoid the ERP at CTE towards AMK (we were from KKFC going to Yishun Dam).

The whole stretch from the Kallang Entrance all the way to the Tampines exit, I remembered my GSR radiator temperature hitting 99 deg C all the way.

Even in jams, never had my temp stayed at that temp all the way. Even with radiator fans on, the slow 70 km/h and the lack of any cool air really drove the temp up.

I was worried about any engine damage but nothing I could do till I exit the tunnel.

 

No more, I say.

 

Two reasons for that.

 

1) High temperature in the tunnel. Unless they turn on the ventilators full blast, there can never be enough fresh air to replace the hot, stale air in the tunnel. Usually only one fan is turned on to shift air in the tunnel (check it out at entrances), thus temperature in the tunnel is quite high, even at 4am.

 

2) Since there is a constant flow of air through the tunnel, actual speed of air flowing through your radiator can be like 10km/h slower. So its hot, and less air is flowing through your radiator. Not very effective.

 

But as long as the coolant doesn't boil, no problem. I've been in worse, stuck in Bangkok city jams, roasting my legs away in 40degree summer heat.

 

The worst stretch is northbound, after Airport road entrance all the way to the exit, there are no more fresh air inlets, so for that 1km+ stretch, temperatures are at the highest. Lucky got no speed cameras there.

[kraikk]

The heat is uncomfortable but still ok for me. What I really found unpleasant was how bumpy and uneven the surface was. I remember trying almost the full length and got a bit of a headache by the time I was done.

 

Anyone else feel the same?

[DeusExMachina]

Boost use of KPE with better signs and murals

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/Drivers/Others/Story/A1Story20090609-147163.html

 

http://motoring.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/motoring/06Jun09/images/20090609.101901_st_kpe.jpg

 

THE Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) is a useful expressway but it is under-utilised.

 

There should be more directional signs along the KPE.

 

These will help promote the use of the KPE, as I realise a lot of my friends and taxi drivers do not know how to get from A to B using the expressway.

 

 

I notice that electronic signs in the KPE indicate only the name of the exit, such as "ECP (Changi Airport)".

 

There should be directional signs indicating landmarks or roads near a particular exit.

 

For example, if a person wants to use the KPE to travel from the city to Hougang, he will realise that there is no indication of which exit he should use.

 

In this case, the Tampines Road exit is the right one, as it will lead motorists to Hougang Avenue 3.

 

I discovered this through trial and error, using the Bartley Road East and Upper Paya Lebar exits.

 

Therefore, I suggest setting up at least two signs to indicate nearby roads at KPE exits.

 

The Tampines Road exit should have a sign which indicates Hougang Avenue 3 and Defu Industrial Estate as two places the exit can lead to.

 

Also, how about having murals on the expressway's plain white walls?

 

Travelling at 70kmh can be quite monotonous and some art which is pleasing to the eye would help keep drivers awake.

 

This could be used to promote Singapore artists and lend some personality to South-east Asia's longest underground expressway.

[DeusExMachina]

Really si peh kum lan idea.....

 

Murals.....

 

 

The problem with the KPE is the stupid speed limit, ambient temperature, bumpy and oily road surface.

 

It's a sh1thole to begin with.

 

 

Adding murals will only make it a colorful sh1thole.

[bernardk]

Really si peh kum lan idea.....

 

Murals.....

 

 

The problem with the KPE is the stupid speed limit, ambient temperature, bumpy and oily road surface.

 

It's a sh1thole to begin with.

 

 

Adding murals will only make it a colorful sh1thole.

 

Hahahaha wa liew good one bro i cant stop laughing at your last sentence HAHAHAHHAHA

Knn siao eh put Murals. SG drivers are blurr enough already put all these sh!t waiting to get Piang only. Tot wat read comic meh.

[NL27]

This morning there is an accident there. think the whole start of KPE jam like hell. From sengkang area.

 

no wonder from sims way all the way to keppel road JAMMED like 1 long snake. luckily was travelling oppo direction:P

[dragonforce]

wtf really kum lan idea to put murals..

[DeusExMachina]

Wonder why they want more ppl to use the tunnel?

They gonna ERP up the damned place and suck back the money from you to recoup their investment.

 

Come to think of it, putting murals could work to attract more ppl to use the KPE.

 

Just tell ppl you saw the mural of a naked Megan Fox or Ayumi Hamasaki somewhere along the 7km mark of the KPE and you have a cash cow right there (plus jams)

 

CHA-CHEEEENG

[jevan]

Yeah it's really hot and humid in there. But like what everyone says, its a great, shorter route to get from kaki bukit/hougang area to the ecp. Hope they can find a way to make it cooler or something. If not most bikers would not want to use it.

[scubasimon]

i actually went to try the tunnel because of the comments on this forum. i drove there from tpe to ecp with aircon on...no problem obviously. then i drove back from ecp to tpe with aircon off and windows open. wow...it started getting warm very quickly. and when i put my hand outside (this is at night for your information) the wind was actually warm and not cool like outside.

 

i did remember all the ventilation fans were on full blast - sounded very loud when i drove pass them. still...i think something needs to be done about it to make it more usable...its a good route though as it cuts through from tpe to ecp - very useful route!

[squarebox]

I believe the lack of ventilation creates low levels oxygen ,thus make riders sleepy which is extremely dangerous. Anyone got a device to check the quality of air?

[Guest motofreak]

i actually went to try the tunnel because of the comments on this forum. i drove there from tpe to ecp with aircon on...no problem obviously. then i drove back from ecp to tpe with aircon off and windows open. wow...it started getting warm very quickly. and when i put my hand outside (this is at night for your information) the wind was actually warm and not cool like outside.

 

i did remember all the ventilation fans were on full blast - sounded very loud when i drove pass them. still...i think something needs to be done about it to make it more usable...its a good route though as it cuts through from tpe to ecp - very useful route!

 

Have to agree that the route is very useful. Cuts thru many cramped roads. But its jus not good for riders. I once spotted and old malay uncle on a scooter suddenly start to sway about. Had to stop him one side. He was almost panting. I escorted him and his wife with my hazzard lights on to the nearest exit. Feels shitty i had to go find a U turn into the tunnel again but feels good to help a fellow Oldtimer biker. It is advised for riders with breathing problems to try avoid the tunnel.

[testamant]

Does anyone feel very giddy or heaty when using this.

 

When I take passengers in my car, they tell me they feel like vomiting, especailly if I travel a long distance in the tunnel.

 

And it is so hot inside, when riding, I feel sleepy. I would hate to use that tunnel when there is a jam inside.

 

Hey guys ,but tink on the brightside for the moment,i am a night rider who rides to work in the WEE hours of the night.very cold in the night,but once i came clost ot the mouth of the so called volcano, i was greeted by a warm breeze that felt nice,i do think it is a bad idea when riding in the tunnel when it's hot.but i tink sleepyness won't occur,cause so far i believe in them doing the maths.hehe:angel:

[AcapAsyraf]

:confused:I GoT thIS dying questioN in my mind... WHY IS KPE SO BUMPY THE ROAD? iT's so called "nEW" wat... why cant they press like the new made roads which is sOo nice to ride on??? becUmin to tink tat the Temperatures inside the tunnel expANd and contraCts the road till Like tat... hehe! seriOusly why eh?

[testamant]

:confused:I GoT thIS dying questioN in my mind... WHY IS KPE SO BUMPY THE ROAD? iT's so called "nEW" wat... why cant they press like the new made roads which is sOo nice to ride on??? becUmin to tink tat the Temperatures inside the tunnel expANd and contraCts the road till Like tat... hehe! seriOusly why eh?

 

Wanna noe why,before even there is a layer of bitumen,it sprays on a layer of concrete with metal placed in it but we do all noe ,the earth riffs will slower contract and expand at will due to tempretaure.furthermore,heavy vehicles do often patronize the roads so,more repairs lead to vigorous bumpy patches,well !!!!! you can't expect a perfect road always.hehehe

[testamant]

Boost use of KPE with better signs and murals

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/Drivers/Others/Story/A1Story20090609-147163.html

 

http://motoring.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/motoring/06Jun09/images/20090609.101901_st_kpe.jpg

 

THE Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) is a useful expressway but it is under-utilised.

 

There should be more directional signs along the KPE.

 

These will help promote the use of the KPE, as I realise a lot of my friends and taxi drivers do not know how to get from A to B using the expressway.

 

 

I notice that electronic signs in the KPE indicate only the name of the exit, such as "ECP (Changi Airport)".

 

There should be directional signs indicating landmarks or roads near a particular exit.

 

For example, if a person wants to use the KPE to travel from the city to Hougang, he will realise that there is no indication of which exit he should use.

 

In this case, the Tampines Road exit is the right one, as it will lead motorists to Hougang Avenue 3.

 

I discovered this through trial and error, using the Bartley Road East and Upper Paya Lebar exits.

 

Therefore, I suggest setting up at least two signs to indicate nearby roads at KPE exits.

 

The Tampines Road exit should have a sign which indicates Hougang Avenue 3 and Defu Industrial Estate as two places the exit can lead to.

 

Also, how about having murals on the expressway's plain white walls?

 

Travelling at 70kmh can be quite monotonous and some art which is pleasing to the eye would help keep drivers awake.

 

This could be used to promote Singapore artists and lend some personality to South-east Asia's longest underground expressway.

 

Hmmm sorry out of topic,sumhow the above pics of the kpe reminds me of a guy who drives through the KPE using his Porsche Caymann at 100km/h at youtube.hmmmmm,wat was he tinking.

[SV650]

:confused:I GoT thIS dying questioN in my mind... WHY IS KPE SO BUMPY THE ROAD? iT's so called "nEW" wat... why cant they press like the new made roads which is sOo nice to ride on??? becUmin to tink tat the Temperatures inside the tunnel expANd and contraCts the road till Like tat... hehe! seriOusly why eh?

 

Wanna noe why,before even there is a layer of bitumen,it sprays on a layer of concrete with metal placed in it but we do all noe ,the earth riffs will slower contract and expand at will due to tempretaure.furthermore,heavy vehicles do often patronize the roads so,more repairs lead to vigorous bumpy patches,well !!!!! you can't expect a perfect road always.hehehe

 

It's the quality of the road work done by the contractor. The initial stretch of KPE was bumpy as the road work contractor was rushing against deadline for the tunnel opening. Nothing to do with soil movement or road expension / contraction. The rest of the stretch of KPE, I guess it's probably the same - rushing for deadline.

 

As to improve the road, maybe higher chance when the ERP gantries are turn on at KPE. As of now, I will avoid KPE whenever I can.

 

Low speed limit + bumpy road --> Hypnotic --> Koon Time while on the move.

Edited September 4, 2009 by SV650

[swiftee]

i rode in kpe before at night... it was warm... which was nice cause the temperature outside was rather chilly

 

but i agree it was so warm at night that it would be unbearable during the day... and the stupid 70km/h speed limit is extra ridiculous when my bike was the only vehicle in sight in the whole tunnel...

[NL27]

CTE tunnels tarmac are so smooth compared to the NEWLY OPENED KPE . Should be improving and why is it deproving? hmmmm dissappointed

[yige84]

Where are the cameras? How many are there?

[bernardk]

Where are the cameras? How many are there?

 

total 6, 3 aside.