Part of Orchard Road to close monthly for human traffic from Oct

In the government’s effort to promote street vibrancy in Singapore, starting next Saturday, 4 October, a short stretch of Orchard Road will be closed to vehicles on the first Saturday night of each month.

Much like the weekend road closures in Ginza, Tokyo and Kowloon, Hong Kong, people will be allowed to roam freely across and around a 660m stretch between Scotts Road and Bideford Road. Specifically, the part stretching from between Ion Orchard and the Marriott Hotel and ending between Paragon and Ngee Ann City will be closed from 6pm to 11pm.
 
The car parks in the malls along the stretch apart from Tong Building, however, will remain fully accessible to vehicles, as will their entrances and exits. A short stretch of Mount Elizabeth will be closed during that time as well, said the Orchard Road Business Association in a media release on the initiative.
 
The closures will run on a trial period once a month, every first Saturday, for half a year until March.
 
During those periods, bus services will be diverted as well to skip the two bus stops located along the stretch of Orchard Road that will be closed.
 
Motorists are advised to enter Orchard Road via Grange Road during this period. Train services will be unaffected by the road closure windows.