Marsiling HDB Blocks 212 to 218 has been chosen for Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) to make way for Woodlands Checkpoint expansion.

The seven HDB blocks of more than 730 sold flats in Marsiling Crescent/Lane will be acquired and owners will be compensated based on the market value of their unit as at the date of acquisition.

They will enjoy the priority to buy a new replacement flat at Woodlands Street 13 with a fresh 99-year lease at subsidised prices. The construction of these 1,100 replacement flats will commence in the third quarter of 2023, with completion estimated by the fourth quarter of 2027.

Whereas the tenants from Marsiling blocks 210 and 211, comprising rental flats, a rental kiosk, rental shops and a rental eating house, will also receive rehousing and clearance benefits.

The Marsiling residents will have to move out by the second quarter of 2028.

HDB will also provide affected Marsiling flat owners with a removal allowance, as well as the stamp and legal fees for the purchase of a comparable replacement flat.

Back in 2017, two lots of private land in the Old Woodlands Town Centre were acquired to faciliate the expansion of Woodlands Checkpoint.

The flat acquisition and redevelopment of Woodlands Checkpoint will be carried out progressively and it may take up to 15 years for this major project according to ICA’s deputy commissioner of operations Hsu Sin Yun.

Why expand the Woodlands Checkpoint?

Woodlands Causeway was one of the busiest land checkpoints in the world, with approximately 300,000 people passing through daily before COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective of expanding Woodlands Checkpoint is to reduce traffic congestion and “future-proof” it for the projected increase in traffic volume, ICA, SLA and HDB said.

The expansion will include the addition of “flexi-lanes” that can clear both cars and motorcycles, reducing travel time by as much as four times, the joint agencies said. This means a clearance time of 15 minutes instead of 60 minutes during the peak hours.