Yishun to Woodlands along the Mandai and SLE Park Connector

The Route

Map data ©2020 Google

We started from Chong Pang Village and headed south along Sembawang Road to Mandai Road, explored Track 15 at the junction of Mandai Road and Mandai Lake Road. Then backtracked to follow along Ulu Sembawang Park Connector turned left at SLE PCN to Singapore Sports School and the Woodlands Station.

This statue of a farmer hard at work is at the junction of Sembawang Road and Yishun Ave 5. This is also near the hottest Toto booth with the largest number of lucky winners.

We came across two fishing enthusiasts who had taken the day off from work to indulge in their hobby. One of the fish caught along the shore of Seletar Reservoir.

The start of the Central Catchment Park Connector. It runs parallel to Track 15 that leads to the rifle shooting range. Although at the start of this trail, the track looks comfortable but as we walked further in, it becomes more close to nature, with fallen branches,  less gravel, etc.
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At the junction of Track 15 and Central Catchment Park Connector. If we were to proceed further into the trail, it would lead to the Gangsa bike trail and Bukit Panjang area.

A billboard at the junction of Mandai Road and Mandai Lake Road, the road leading to the Zoo.

The Ulu Sembawang Park Connector. This trail was just opened. It provides a view of the Mandai forests and the nearby farming industries.

Along the SLE Park Connector. It runs along a wide open field before the Singapore Sports School. The sky was threatening to rain. We were worried about thunder and lightning as we were on raised and exposed ground.

A view of the Singapore Sports School from the SLE Park Connector. You can see the dark clouds behind the school. As soon as we reached the Woodlands MRT Station the sky opened up.

From Seletar to Punggol via Pulau Punggol Barat and Timor

The Route
 

Map data ©2020 Google

There are 2 islands off the northern coast of Seletar Airport. Google Maps indicate a new road linking Seletar across these islands to Punggol. This route was planned to explore the area.

View from Seletar West Link across to Yishun

We started from the prata shop in Jalan Kayu after a meal of Indian dishes and prata. Walked along Jalan Kayu to West Camp Road and followed it all the way to the airport. Near the Seletar Club Road we moved on to the Seletar West Link which runs parrallel to W Camp Rd but separated by a canal.

Seletar Airport

Walked along Seletar West Link, crossed the bridge leading to P Punggol Barat and continued on to Seletar North Link.

Seletar West Link ends at the bridge connecting Pulau Punggol Barat to the mainland and becomes Seletar North Link beyond the bridge. There were earthworks being done on the island. All day long hundreds of trucks carrying sand and concrete moved continuously on the road. As the road here is exposed, there is a risk of either sun/dust or thunder/lightning. If there had been lightning we would have walked across the dam linking to Yishun and walked towards Yishun. On that day, we were lucky as there was light rain that kept the dust down and the air clean and no lighting.

Truck transporting sand

A dam joins P Punggol Barat to P Punggol Timor. Another dam joins P Punggol Timor to Punggol. These dams hold back the Punggol River to form another reservoir.

Standing on the dam joining the two islands

Pulau Punggol Timor is used for stockpiling sand and granite. These can be seen piled as high as 4 to 5 metres.

Sand stockpile

There are also a few concrete mixing plants on Punggol Timor which explained the concrete trucks movement.

Punggol Marina

Traffic is prevented to move to Punggol mainland by a barrier near the dam. Trucks moving sand and concrete have to use Seletar West Link and Seletar North Link.

After crossing the dam joining the island back to the mainland, we could see Punggol Marina on the left.

See Also:
Along Lower Seletar Reservoir
Mandai Road and Sungei Seletar
Yishun to Woodlands along the Mandai and SLE Park Connector