Lim Chu Kang Road used to be a long curvy road. In the mid-eighties, a new straightened stretch of Lim Chu Kang Road was built, and, over the years, became known as the Lim Chu Kang “Runway”. The former curved segment of the road was renamed Old Lim Chu Kang Road.

The new six-lane Lim Chu Kang Road, after its completion, was not immediately opened to public and traffic. On 16 April 1986, it was used as an emergency runway for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft. This was the first emergency runway exercise for RSAF, involving two A4 Skyhawks and two F5E Tigers.

Two weeks prior to the exercise, Phua Bah Lee (1932-2021), Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, met the Lim Chu Kang community leaders and explained to them the importance of such exercises, and how the RSAF could enhance its operational readiness and test its capabilities to launch and recover their aircraft from roads and expressways.

The Lim Chu Kang runway was narrower (24m wide) and slightly shorter (2.5km long) as compared to an actual runway, which is about 2.75km long. The conversion of the road into an emergency runway could take between six and 48 hours, depending on the tension level of the situation. The preparation works included the dismantling of lampposts, bus stops, drain railings and traffic lights. Sweeping and removal of road debris and objects was also carried out to minimise potential damages to the aircraft.

The use of Lim Chu Kang Road as an emergency runway was one of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) ways to maximise the use of training areas, other than its then-traditional sites at Pulau Tekong, Palau Brani, army camps, air bases and naval bases.

In the late eighties and early nineties, several SAF trainings and exercises were trialled at non-traditional sites. Other than Lim Chu Kang Road, there was also urban warfare training held at disused Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats at Boon Lay and Mei Ling Street. Pulau Sudong in 1990 became a new training site for SAF ground troops.

The Lim Chu Kang runway exercise was carried out again in March 1990. This time, the RSAF improved their communication efforts by disseminating pamphlets and giving publicised briefs to the community leaders, residents, farmers and students in the area.

The mainstream media also broadcast news on Lim Chu Kang Road’s closing and reopening dates. During the road closure, bus services were diverted and residents were advised to take alternate routes. For example, residents had to use Neo Tiew Road to return to their Ama Keng and Thong Hoe villages.

As many as 10 RSAF aircraft took part in the 1990 emergency runway exercise, with F16 Fighting Falcon making its first public appearance. Subsequent emergency runway exercises were conducted in November 1992, December 1997, November 2002 and November 2008. The last – Exercise Torrent – was held in November 2016.

In 2017, the Singapore Government announced that Tengah Air Base would be expanded as part of Paya Lebar Air Base’s relocation plans from 2030 onwards. A new runway will be developed for the expanded Tengah Air Base to meet RSAF’s operational needs. The nearby farms, roads and cemeteries, with as many as 80,500 graves, are expected to make way for Tengah Air Base’s expansion.

Another new Lim Chu Kang Road will be built in the second half of 2025 to replace Lim Chu Kang “Runway” and Old Lim Chu Kang Road; both roads are likely to be expunged or become part of the expanded Tengah Air Base.

After hosting seven emergency runway exercises in the span of 39 years, Lim Chu Kang “Runway” has its mission accomplished and will soon be a part of the area’s history.

Published: 28 April 2025