Worst roads in Singapore that drivers hate

Driving in Singapore can be quite a stressful ordeal for some, especially for new drivers still donning that accursed P-plate on their cars. However, there are a couple of roads that can daunt even experienced road users who’ve got years upon years of weaving in and out of Little Red Dot’s congested streets.

From unfamiliar roundabouts that put your BTT knowledge to the test to junctions that constantly change due to perpetual roadworks, here are some of the most stressful roads in Singapore to drive on, according to drivers.

1. Newton Circus

Image credit: Motorist Singapore

Thankfully, drivers in Singapore don’t have to deal with the intricacies of navigating a roundabout too often. But for those who’re tasked with conquering Newton Circus on the daily, witnessing and being part of near misses or worse, actual accidents, are just part and parcel of driving on this monstrosity of a roundabout.

Image credit: Newton Food Centre

For starters, Newton Circus isn’t a textbook roundabout, as it takes the form of an oval-shaped junction instead, with 5 entry roads, 7 exits, and multiple circulating lanes. If that wasn’t overstimulating enough, you’ll also have to deal with traffic signals as you keep an eye out for road markings while keeping in lane.

Coupling this with the fact that you’ll have to give a wider berth to errant drivers who’ll change lanes at the last second when filtering out of this convoluted roundabout, Newton Circus is definitely a nightmare for drivers unfamiliar with its layout.

2. Bideford Road / Orchard Road / Orchard Link

Image adapted from: Google Maps

It’s no surprise that one of the most congested areas of Singapore can be found in the city centre, but the hold-up along Bideford Road, Orchard Road and Orchard Link can stump even the most patient of drivers out there. Particularly along Bideford Road, it can take you up to 20 minutes just to cover 1km of distance.

Even the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has acknowledged how bad the traffic conditions along that stretch can get, with plans to bring back ERP operations should the congestion get worse. The reason why cars only get to move at a snail’s pace here is because vehicles along these roads are constantly entering and leaving developments, such as malls, office buildings and hotels.

Image credit: CapitaLand

Speaking of malls, some of the busiest ones are located here, such as Takashimaya, 313@somerset, Paragon, and ION Orchard, just to name a few. We all know how much tourists and Singaporeans alike love to spend hours gallivanting in these air-conditioned havens, so be prepared to twiddle your thumbs behind the wheel for quite a bit here, watching cars turn in and out of carparks.

3. Thomson Road / Balestier Road

Image credit: u/After_Fudge_6051 via Reddit

With how much construction work is constantly going on at Novena, even its residents find it challenging to drive around the neighbourhood. The ongoing North-South Corridor project has turned Thomson Road and Balestier Road into a complex labyrinth of roads which required constant reconfiguration to accommodate its construction.

Many also caution against driving around the vicinity of Velocity@Novena Square, as the area right outside the mall is known to be the site of frequent jams. And just when you thought you’d escaped the brunt of it all, then comes the issue of parking.

Velocity@Novena Square and Square 2 carparks are notorious for causing headaches. The former has a bad rep for its painfully narrow up-and-down slopes, while the latter’s spiral descent that you’ll have to overcome when exiting sports many scrape marks on its walls.

4. Bukit Batok Road

Image credit: Wikipedia

Another road that’s heavily affected by the building of new infrastructure is Bukit Batok Road. It’s located near Tengah, and drivers familiar with the stretch bordering the budding new neighbourhood can attest to the sheer amount of roadworks and lane closures there.

Quite a number of folks have also brought attention to the lack of proper road markings, as well as many patched sections of the road being so uneven that driving over them felt like running over speed bumps. Meanwhile, even using GPS mapping apps when navigating Bukit Batok Road can spell trouble.

Image credit: Jurong Region Line Construction

One road user recounts following Google Maps to a tee, but found themselves driving on the wrong side of the road due to roadworks and construction barricades being set up. Strange enough, students of the nearby Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC) are often directed by instructors to drive here for their lessons, perhaps as some sort of trial by fire.

5. Bukit Timah Road

Bukit Timah Road, especially the stretch between Newton, Sixth Avenue, and King Albert Park precincts during peak hours, is a great spot to put your mettle and patience to the test. It plays host to one of the meanest road congestions around, to the point that BBDC instructors make it a point to bring new drivers there to teach them how to handle driving in congested traffic.

Image credit: Wikipedia

There is an unusually high concentration of schools around Bukit Timah Road, which contributes to the build-up of traffic in the morning and when the school bell rings. Some schools in the area include Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Girls High School, National Junior College, Raffles Girls’ Primary School, and Bukit Timah Primary School, just to name a few.

6. Loyang Avenue

Yet again, ongoing construction projects are the main cause of unpleasant driving experiences on Loyang Avenue, and it looks like we’ve still got some waiting to do before they’re finished. The Loyang Viaduct and Cross Island Line’s Loyang MRT station are still in the works, and are slated for completion sometime in 2030.

What’s more, road closures aren’t the only thing you’ll have to keep in mind when driving in the far East. The Loyang area is home to significant industrial and aviation-related activity, which means you’ll more than likely bump into several heavy vehicles to be wary of during your drive.

Image adapted from: Google Maps

Another aspect of the road that’s worth taking note of is the awkward section near the TPE towards Loyang Avenue and Old Tampines Road. Vehicles coming off the expressway will have to filter across 3 lanes to form up correctly when turning into Old Tampines Road, and many drivers have had close shaves with other road users cutting across them haphazardly.

7. Gambas Avenue

Head on over to Gambas Avenue, should you wish to check if you’ve got to fix your vehicle’s suspension or not. That’s because the road is widely known to be riddled with patched-up portions of asphalt that’ll have your car turning into a carnival ride, as your wheels rumble and groan on the uneven road surface.

Image credit: @rolandseh via Instagram

The road sits well within the construction zone of the aforementioned North-South Corridor, and as such has definitely seen better days because of the perpetual roadworks. As a result, certain sections of Gambas Avenue are closed as we speak, but don’t be too surprised if you suddenly feel like you’re driving on off-road terrain when you’re cruising in the North.

8. Serangoon Road / Upper Serangoon Road

Over in the North-East, traffic conditions regularly get pretty dang hectic around Serangoon Road leading up into Upper Serangoon Road. First of all, you’ll probably have to sit through successive traffic lights along these roads when evening peak hour hits as you inch your way home.

Image adapted from: Google Maps

Things get worse as you approach the Woodsville Flyover near Potong Pasir and Woodleigh. It’s where Serangoon Road, Upper Serangoon Road, Bendemeer Road, and MacPherson Road converge, so you’ll need to be extra alert when driving through here when the traffic flow gets heavy.

Further up North, the junction between Upper Serangoon Road, Bartley Road, and Braddell Road is another one to be wary of. Make sure to look at the correct traffic signals when forming up, as some of the weirdly slanted traffic lights have caused quite a few drivers to unknowingly beat red lights.

9. Havelock Road

Image adapted from: Google Maps

While Havelock Road itself is pretty inconspicuous, it is the CTE exit of the road that has drawn the ire of drivers heading towards Clarke Quay and Chinatown. This particular CTE exit near the Ministry of Manpower building places motorists in the rightmost lane of the carriageway, which means you’ve got quite a bit of lane-changing to do if you want to turn onto the next junction.

You can’t even filter out extra early even if you’d want to, as there are double white lines stopping you from doing so right after the exit. Quite a number of drivers have lamented that they’ve missed that particular left turn many times, rather than attempt an unsafe, last-minute manoeuvre.

Be extra careful when driving on these tricky roads in Singapore

With COE prices constantly on the rise, one can only wonder why our roads are seemingly overpopulated with so many drivers. As such, you’ll still want to stay vigilant when you’re behind the wheel, especially on these tricky and frequently congested roads in Singapore.

There’s also no shame in taking public transport too, even if you’re an avid driver. Who knows, you might even be able to arrive at your destination faster than if you had driven, as our trains don’t have to conform to jams.

For more driving-related reads:

• Petrol station discounts & promotions
• Guide to getting your driver’s licence in SG
• Tales from a private hire driver in SG

Cover image adapted from: u/After_Fudge_6051 via Reddit, Google Maps