In Orchard Road’s latest desperate bid to attract more people to the dying shopping district, the stretch is planning to launch a month-long trial for a diagonal pedestrian crossing, emulating Tokyo’s famous Shibuya Crossing.
Every weekend and public holiday in between Dec 16 and Jan 28, folks will be able to imagine they’re in the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world when they cross the Cairnhill Road-Orchard Road intersection diagonally, directly to and from H&M and The Heeren. The aim is to improve pedestrian connectivity along the district, said Orchard Road Business Association chairman Mark Shaw in a press conference last Friday, The Straits Times reported.
Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time a scramble crossing will be tested out at Orchard Road — in December 2006, there was a similar six-month trial carried out at the Bideford Road-Orchard Road junction, where Ngee Ann City and Grand Park Orchard currently stand.
While it remains to be seen if the Shibuya-style crossing will help rejuvenate business in the embattled shopping district, Orchard Road will definitely see a lot more selfie sticks whipped out during the trial period next month. Typically, the area welcomes a lot more foot traffic during year-end thanks to the Christmas celebrations and decor (especially with the Christmas Village this year), and the diagonal crossing option should help alleviate congestion.
