26-8-2024 (SINGAPORE) A dramatic incident unfolded in the early hours of 25 August when an oversized tipper truck wreaked havoc in a section of Singapore’s Central Expressway (CTE) tunnel, leading to the arrest of its driver. The vehicle, which exceeded the height limit of 4.5 metres, caused significant damage to light fittings and lane-use signs along the tunnel’s ceiling.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed to The Straits Times that while the incident resulted in considerable disruption, there was fortunately no structural damage to the tunnel itself. However, the aftermath of the collision left a trail of debris scattered across two lanes, with exposed wires dangling precariously from the ceiling.
Footage of the scene, captured at approximately 1:15 am and shared on the popular Roads.sg Facebook page, revealed the extent of the damage near the Havelock Road exit. The video showed traffic cones cordoning off the affected stretch in the centre and right lanes, leaving only the left lane open for vehicles to pass through. The offending truck, clearly exceeding the height restrictions, was also visible in the footage.
The Singapore Police Force reported that they were alerted to the incident on the CTE towards the Seletar Expressway (SLE) at around 1 am. Following their arrival at the scene, officers arrested the 39-year-old male driver of the tipper truck. The charge levelled against him was for operating a heavy motor vehicle with an overall height surpassing 4.5 metres without the requisite police or auxiliary police escort.
In response to the incident, the LTA took swift action to manage the situation and minimise disruption to commuters. Lanes 1 and 2, which had been closed for safety reasons and to facilitate clean-up operations, were reopened to traffic at approximately 10:20 am on the same day. The authority has stated that the damaged parts will be replaced at a later date, likely during a period of lower traffic volume to reduce inconvenience to road users.
