What was supposed to be a four-year project to widen the roads around the Braddell Flyover has become a six-year nightmare for residents of about 10 nearby blocks in Bishan and Toa Payoh. Originally slated for completion by 2015, the end of the project has been delayed to the first quarter of 2017, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed yesterday.

It is the second time the deadline for the Braddell Flyover project has been extended since work started in 2012. Part of the delay was caused by a change in the contractor for the project and the difficulties associated with the handover, The Straits Times has learnt. Hexagroup was awarded the first tender for $29 million in 2012, with a completion date of end-2015.

But financial difficulties at the local construction firm led the LTA to terminate the contract in 2015. It is not known how much had been paid to Hexagroup, which is in the process of winding up.

The current contractor, Feng Ming Construction, won the second $29.9 million tender that year to complete the public works by the end of this year. The project includes the construction of a single-lane flyover for right-turning traffic from Lorong 6, Toa Payoh to connect directly with the Braddell underpass, towards Paya Lebar.