Commentary: Can commuters’ fatigue from North-South Corridor construction be better managed?

Recognising these different timescales helps us appreciate the project’s long-term value while taking its present costs seriously.

The burden varies considerably too. A commuter passing through the area has a different experience from a resident whose home faces the worksite. A detour that is manageable for one pedestrian may be difficult for someone with limited mobility. A shop dependent on footfall may have fewer ways to adapt than businesses that are not.

Nor can we assume that everyone bearing these costs will eventually enjoy the benefits. A business that closes before the project is completed cannot recover simply because the neighbourhood later becomes more accessible.

Some disruption is unavoidable when a city improves its infrastructure. That makes it all the more important to identify which burdens can reasonably be reduced.

For residents and businesses living with the works every day, efforts to maintain access, reduce uncertainty and respond to local difficulties are practical expressions of Singapore’s commitment to liveability.