Two lanes along PIE closed after new oil spill
SINGAPORE — A traffic accident involving an oil tanker and a tipper truck led to yet another oil spillage on the roads, just a few days after a similar incident last Friday (Jan 29). The accident this afternoon (Feb 1) led to two lanes being closed along the eastbound Pan Island Expressway (PIE) after the Jurong Town Hall Road exit.
The slip roads of Bukit Batok Road and Jurong Town Hall Road into PIE (Changi) were also closed to facilitate recovery works, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement.
LTA posted on its Twitter account at about 3.40pm to advise motorists to seek alternative roads, such as the slip road of Toh Guan Road into PIE (Changi).
The police said they were alerted to the accident at about 1.40pm, and investigations are ongoing.
Around the same time, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also received a call, and one fire engine was sent to help clear the spillage. Its spokesperson added that its “resources returned to the fire station around 3.30pm when its assistance was no longer required”.
LTA later completed its road resurfacing works along the stretch of PIE after Jurong Town Hall Road exit. One lane was re-opened at 6pm, and TODAY understands that by then, traffic was moving slowly but smoothly, despite the rush-hour traffic. The remaining lane was re-opened at 7.05pm.
Last Friday, an accident involving a Malaysian-registered oil tanker and a car caused an oil spillage on a section of the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) after Mandai, and two of the four lanes had to be closed.
For more than half a day, the massive traffic snarl left many disgruntled drivers stuck in traffic that tailed back kilometres to Woodlands.
Public transport operator SMRT reported that the jam stretched back to Woodlands Avenues 1, 2 and 3, and caused buses to be stuck at Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange. A 12-hour clean-up and road repaving operation was needed to clear up the accident spot.
