SINGAPORE — One of Tokyo’s most recognisable street-crossing experiences is coming to Singapore, but instead of navigating the crowds of Shibuya, pedestrians will soon be able to cross diagonally at a busy junction in Joo Chiat.
Starting November 16, 2026, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will introduce a three-month trial of a Shibuya-style scramble crossing at the junction of Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road, directly outside i12 Katong shopping mall.
The experiment will allow pedestrians to cross in every direction, including diagonally, during a dedicated traffic-light phase when vehicles from all directions must stop.
It is intended to make the busy intersection safer and more convenient for people on foot.
But there is a trade-off.
The LTA has warned that the new arrangement could mean longer waiting times for both motorists and pedestrians. The trial will therefore test whether improved pedestrian movement can be achieved without creating unacceptable traffic delays.
And with previous scramble-crossing experiments in Singapore failing to become permanent, the latest initiative raises another question: could Joo Chiat finally demonstrate that this unusual traffic arrangement belongs on more of the city’s streets?
Joo Chiat Junction Selected for Its Heavy Pedestrian Activity
The trial will take place at the intersection of Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road, a busy location serving residents, shoppers and visitors to the Katong-Joo Chiat neighbourhood.
The junction’s location outside i12 Katong makes it a particularly visible crossing point, with pedestrians moving between nearby businesses, public transport connections and surrounding residential areas.
According to LTA, the selected intersection is relatively small but experiences substantial pedestrian activity.
The authority said the initiative follows interest from the local community in improving safety at the crossing.
Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC MP Goh Pei Ming also told Channel NewsAsia that he had personally observed situations in which turning vehicles came close to hitting pedestrians.
The idea reportedly originated with a grassroots leader and was developed through months of discussions involving community volunteers, merchant representatives, Goh and LTA officers.
The project is therefore not simply a traffic-engineering experiment. It also reflects a neighbourhood-level effort to reconsider how pedestrians and motorists share limited road space.
How the Shibuya-Style Crossing Will Work
A scramble crossing is different from a conventional pedestrian crossing.
Under the usual arrangement, pedestrians cross while vehicles travelling in certain directions may still be permitted to move or turn, depending on the traffic signals.
A scramble crossing introduces a separate pedestrian phase.
During that phase, vehicles in every direction are stopped, allowing pedestrians to cross the intersection simultaneously from different sides.
They can also walk diagonally instead of having to cross one road at a time.
The concept is famously associated with Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing, where large crowds move across the intersection during dedicated pedestrian signals.
For Joo Chiat, the arrangement is intended to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles while making it easier to reach destinations on opposite corners.
However, the Singapore trial will operate at a much smaller intersection than the internationally recognised crossing in Tokyo. Its effectiveness will depend on local pedestrian demand, traffic patterns and how road users respond to the new signals.
Drivers Face an Important Change: The Right Turn Will Be Restricted
The scramble crossing is not the only change motorists should prepare for.
As part of the traffic arrangement, vehicles travelling along East Coast Road towards Mountbatten Road will no longer be allowed to turn right into Joo Chiat Road.
LTA has indicated that the restriction is intended to improve traffic flow at the busy junction.
Residents in surrounding estates will still be able to reach their neighbourhoods using alternative routes.
Advance signs will be installed to inform motorists of the changes. Traffic wardens will also be deployed on the implementation day to guide drivers and pedestrians through the new arrangement.
Motorists who regularly travel through the area should pay attention to the updated road signs and plan their routes before the trial begins.
The right-turn restriction is particularly important because it changes how vehicles approach and leave the intersection, rather than simply changing the pedestrian signal sequence.
Why LTA Is Willing to Accept Longer Waiting Times
The biggest challenge for the new arrangement may be balancing pedestrian convenience with vehicle movement.
LTA has acknowledged that the scramble crossing could result in longer waiting times for both pedestrians and motorists.
That may seem counterintuitive. After all, allowing people to cross in every direction at once sounds like a way to make journeys faster.
However, the dedicated pedestrian phase requires vehicles to remain stationary while people cross. Depending on the traffic-light cycle and the number of people waiting, some motorists may experience additional delays.
Pedestrians may also need to wait longer for their dedicated crossing phase instead of crossing during an existing signal sequence.
The authority said it will closely monitor traffic and pedestrian conditions throughout the three-month experiment before deciding whether further action is necessary.
The findings will help determine whether the benefits justify the operational trade-offs.
Transport Expert Says the Arrangement Could Also Help Local Businesses
The proposed crossing could have implications beyond road safety.
Speaking to CNA, transport economist Walter Theseira of the Singapore University of Social Sciences explained that scramble crossings are designed to facilitate both pedestrian and vehicle movement.
By separating pedestrian crossings from vehicle turns, the system can reduce conflicts between people walking and cars attempting to complete turning movements.
Theseira also noted that a better pedestrian experience could potentially benefit businesses by attracting more foot traffic to the neighbourhood.
That possibility is relevant to Katong-Joo Chiat, an area known for its shops, food establishments and distinctive local character.
A more pedestrian-friendly environment could encourage visitors to explore nearby businesses without having to navigate as many vehicle conflicts at busy intersections.
However, the economist also highlighted that broader planning factors matter, including the availability of good walkways and how strongly businesses and public spaces are designed around pedestrians.
He suggested that further pedestrian-focused measures, such as reducing vehicle access along certain stretches or creating more pedestrian space, could also be considered.
These are broader planning possibilities, not confirmed components of the current LTA trial.
Singapore Has Tried Scramble Crossings Before — But They Did Not Last
The Joo Chiat experiment is not Singapore’s first attempt to introduce this type of intersection.
In December 2006, a scramble crossing was trialled at the junction of Bideford Road and Orchard Road. That experiment lasted six months but was not made permanent.
Another trial followed in December 2017 at the junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road. It ran for approximately one month and was also discontinued.
Singapore currently has one permanent scramble crossing at the junction of Robinson Road and Boon Tat Street, near Lau Pa Sat.
The existence of that permanent crossing demonstrates that the arrangement can be used in Singapore, but the earlier discontinued trials also show that its suitability depends on the characteristics of each location.
Traffic volume, pedestrian demand, intersection size and waiting times all influence whether the system works effectively.
This history makes the Joo Chiat pilot particularly significant.
Rather than assuming that a successful arrangement in another city will automatically work in Singapore, LTA will have an opportunity to assess the system under local conditions.
Joo Chiat’s Pedestrian-Friendly Push Is Part of a Wider Neighbourhood Conversation
The scramble crossing also fits into a broader discussion about how Singapore can make neighbourhoods more comfortable for people who walk, cycle and use public transport.
In recent years, pedestrian accessibility and safer street design have become important considerations in transport planning.
LTA’s wider Walk-Cycle-Ride efforts aim to improve the experience of moving around neighbourhoods without relying entirely on private vehicles.
As explored in WWC ONE MEDIA’s report on Singapore’s transport changes for an ageing population and the challenge of making daily journeys more accessible, pedestrian infrastructure is especially important for older commuters and people with reduced mobility.
A crossing that separates turning vehicles from pedestrians could be one way to improve the experience of navigating a busy neighbourhood.
However, it is only one part of a much larger transport network.
The surrounding footpaths, crossings, accessibility features and connections to public transport must also work together.
Road Safety Concerns Extend Beyond One Intersection
Singapore’s roads have also faced wider concerns involving interactions between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
Recent incidents involving vulnerable road users have renewed attention on how people move through busy urban spaces.
In a separate report, WWC ONE MEDIA examined a near-miss involving a Grab autonomous vehicle and a schoolgirl at a pedestrian crossing in Punggol.
That incident involved a different traffic situation and should not be confused with the Joo Chiat trial. Nevertheless, both cases highlight the importance of how vehicles respond when pedestrians are present.
Another WWC report examined a group of cyclists and e-bike riders occupying multiple lanes in Singapore’s Central Business District, illustrating the wider challenge of ensuring that different road users can share limited urban space safely.
The Joo Chiat crossing addresses a more specific problem: reducing potential conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles at a busy junction.
Its results could offer useful lessons for other locations where pedestrian activity is particularly high.
The Neighbourhood Has Already Experimented With Less Car-Centred Streets
Joo Chiat has previously taken steps to explore a more pedestrian-oriented environment.
On October 3, part of Joo Chiat Road was closed to vehicles for six hours as part of a World Car-Free Day initiative.
CNA reported that the event attracted more than 5,000 people.
The event demonstrated local interest in creating opportunities for people to enjoy the neighbourhood beyond its usual vehicle traffic.
However, a temporary car-free event and a permanent traffic arrangement are different challenges.
The first creates a controlled space for a limited period. The second must account for everyday commuting, deliveries, residents, business operations and traffic conditions.
The scramble crossing trial will provide another opportunity to assess how much pedestrian-focused changes can improve the neighbourhood while keeping essential vehicle movement functioning.
What Happens After the Three-Month Trial?
The trial is scheduled to run for three months beginning November 16, 2026.
LTA has said it will monitor traffic and pedestrian conditions and assess the trade-offs before making further decisions.
The authority has not announced that the Joo Chiat crossing will automatically become permanent after the trial.
Its eventual decision will depend on the findings.
Among the important considerations are whether pedestrian safety and convenience improve, whether traffic conditions remain manageable and whether the new arrangement works effectively for different road users.
If the pilot proves successful, the crossing could become another distinctive feature of the Katong-Joo Chiat neighbourhood.
But if the additional waiting times or traffic disruptions outweigh the benefits, LTA may need to reconsider the arrangement.
For now, pedestrians and motorists will have to adapt to a new way of navigating one of the area’s busiest intersections.
The real test begins on November 16: can Singapore make its streets safer for pedestrians without making the journey more frustrating for everyone else?
