My Battle Royale with LTA.. Okay, more like hitting a stubborn stone wall with a salmon.

Ok, as a driver, I get bugged about the lack of signage to the estate, the problem of the buses blocking drivers' views when they need to get out of the estate, other cars tailgating you when you try to get into the entrance etc. So I wrote to LTA asking them to look into the matter, and offering some suggestions. I pointed out that on Queensway heading towards Farrer Road, there's like a gazillion signs indicating that Holland Road is to the left, including one right outside our estate. I argued that we need one saying Viz Holland/Viz@Holland/Viz at Holland about 200m before the entrance so that drivers know where and when to slow down/turn.

This is their first official response (dated 13 Aug 2010):

REQUEST TO PUT UP PERMANENT SIGNAGE WARNING OF ENTRANCE TO VIZ HOLLAND ESTATE
FEEDBACK NUMBER: 20100720-0782

We refer to your email of 20 July 2010.

We would like to inform you that there are existing information signs to inform motorists leading to the condominiums along this stretch of Queensway. Nevertheless, we will do a site check and monitor if additional signs is necessary and we will implement it accordingly.

The "Holland Road" sign is a directional sign to inform motorists of the general direction towards Holland Road. Thus, we have no intention to remove or change the sign at this moment. The bus stop outside Viz Holland along Queensway serves seven bus services and is provided with a bay for safe bus operation. To share with you, we have explored the location and due to site constraint, there is no site after Viz Holland to accommodate a bus bay. Thus, we recommend to retain the existing bus stop as it serves the cluster of residents from the nearby condominiums.

With regard to your request for Viz Holland entrance sign, our colleague from the Traffic Management, Dr Lau, will reply you directly once details are gathered.

We thank you for writing in.

Yours sincerely

(SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
Rebecca Tan (Ms)
Executive
Project Communications & Feedback

This was followed by another email (dated 26 Aug 2010);

Request to put up Permanent Signage warning of Entrance to Viz Holland estate
FEEDBACK NUMBER: 20100720-0782

Please refer to your email of 20 July 2010.

We have studied and find that the existing signs along Queensway towards Holland Road useful in guiding motorists and keeping in the right lane and conform to LTA's requirement of directional/ information signs before an intersection. The information sign "Condominiums/Side roads, KEEP LEFT" advise motorist to keep left and not to proceed into the tunnel to reach the number of condominiums around this vicinity.

Signs to individual premises (i.e. facility signs) are normally restricted to location open to location open to public access. Condominiums are not regarded as being in this category. This criterion is set to manage our streetscape without cluttering it with too many signs.

The entrance/exit of Viz Holland is visible to the motorists, however to make it more prominent, an identity sign could be install within the development boundary.

Thank you
Yours sincerely

(SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
TAY CHENG TIONG EMMANUEL
FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

In other words: "We've 'studied', you're wrong, status quo, thank you."
So, drivers of Viz, do you agree with their 'study' of our estate?

Tags: viz@holland, viz holland, viz @ holland, land transport authority, LTA

Is our estate entrance dangerous?

As drivers, you'd have encountered the following by now:

1. Lorry parked at bus lane, blocking your view of incoming traffic as you attempt to drive out of the car park onto Queensway.
2. Cars barrelling down the side road, heading towards Holland Road at F1 speeds, making it hard for you to get onto the Queensway side road.
   
3. You slow down to turn into the car park, but the car behind you doesn't realise you are making a sharp left at Viz instead of Holland Road, and continues to tailgate you. You slow to make a turn and he horns or gesticulates/swears as he drives past.

Have you encountered such problems? Is our entrance dangerous?

Let me know. Do you know that there's no less than 6 signs indicating Holland Road on the left, on the road leading towards Viz? INCLUDING the big one right in front of our estate entrance.

I've been in touch with LTA and as usual they claimed to have 'studied' the road situation around the estate entrance (ie they looked at a map) and said there's no issue. Typical.

Tags: viz @ holland, viz holland, viz@holland, singapore, queensway, holland