Did you know? The next great Bukit Timah walk may sit above a canal rather than beside a forest path. A new elevated green connection is planned between the Rail Corridor and Jalan Kampong Chantek, turning infrastructure that normally carries stormwater into part of a larger nature journey.
Quick answer, checked 24 October 2026: NParks says the first phase of the Bukit Timah–Rochor Green Corridor is approximately 1 kilometre long and is estimated to complete by 2027. It is a target for that first connection—not confirmation that the entire route to Kallang will be available in 2027.
What is this future elevated walk?
The NParks project page, updated September 2026 describes a linear park along the Bukit Timah Canal, imagined as a journey through a riverine forest. The first phase is an elevated sky-park link from the Rail Corridor to Jalan Kampong Chantek. NParks’ concept includes planting, shade, resting places and views along the route.
Imagine someone stepping away from the restored railway setting and finding another ribbon of greenery, this time above part of the waterway. That is the promise of the design: not a theme park, but a more comfortable connection through a densely built part of Bukit Timah.
What is on the 2026–2027 calendar?
- Already here in 2026: Bukit Timah Railway Station and the Central Rail Corridor are existing places to visit, subject to current route conditions and access notices.
- September 2026 plan update: NParks still described a roughly 1km first phase from the Rail Corridor to Jalan Kampong Chantek, with construction estimated to finish by 2027.
- Targeted for 2027: the elevated first-phase link, provided the programme proceeds as expected.
- Beyond the first phase: additional stretches towards Kallang Riverside Park are to be developed progressively alongside future PUB canal improvements; the whole corridor has no single 2027 completion promise.
URA also identifies the first elevated section as a key addition to Bukit Timah’s greenery network in its July 2026 Central Region parks update.
Does it replace the Rail Corridor?
No. Think of the Rail Corridor as a long north-south spine and the new green walk as a connecting branch. The former railway provides the older heritage-and-nature route; the planned corridor adds a way to move eastward through the canal landscape.
NParks makes another useful distinction. The existing Coast-to-Coast (Central) Trail runs at street level along Bukit Timah Road and can serve cyclists. The elevated green park is planned as a botanical walking experience for pedestrians. Do not assume the new elevated portion is a cycle track.
How can a canal become a green space?
Most canals are designed for one visible task: moving water safely after rain. But their linear alignment also offers another possibility—connecting neighbourhoods that would otherwise be separated by roads and buildings.
Designers can place a walking structure in relation to an existing canal, create resting points and plant suitable greenery, while engineers protect the canal’s drainage function. It is a useful lesson in urban design: a waterway and a walking route may share a corridor, but each has different safety requirements.
The 2026 completion of Upper Bukit Timah Canal drainage upgrading is a separate water-management milestone. It should not be confused with the public opening of the green walkway.
What should families plan for in the meantime?
- Enjoy the existing Bukit Timah Railway Station community node and Central Rail Corridor, using current official access guidance.
- Do not plan a 2026 outing that depends on walking the uncompleted elevated link.
- Watch for NParks’ actual opening notice, confirmed entrance locations, accessibility information and any usage rules.
- Check the weather before visits: open-air nature trails remain exposed to rain, lightning and heat.
- Treat concept illustrations as design intent, not proof that every feature is already built.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Bukit Timah–Rochor Green Corridor opening?
NParks gives an estimated 2027 completion for the approximately 1km first phase. A specific public opening date should be confirmed nearer the time.
How far does the first phase go?
From the Rail Corridor to Jalan Kampong Chantek. The broader route towards Kallang Riverside Park is planned in subsequent phases.
Can cyclists use the elevated green walk?
The official concept distinguishes an elevated pedestrian botanical experience from the existing at-grade Coast-to-Coast (Central) Trail, which caters to cyclists. Check final rules upon opening.
Is the Bukit Timah Railway Station already open?
Yes. The restored station community node has been open since 2022; it is a separate, existing destination from the upcoming elevated link.
Read more and check the official opening
Start with NParks’ Bukit Timah–Rochor Green Corridor project page for the latest phase definition and timing. See URA’s Central Region green-network update. For an outing today, use our Bukit Timah Railway Station guide and Rail Corridor Central walking guide.
Last fact-checked: 24 October 2026. Featured editorial illustration shows the existing railway heritage setting, not a rendering or photograph of the unfinished elevated walkway.
More in the Future of Bukit Timah series: Turf City homes (2026–2027) · Cross Island Line works · Canal and flood resilience.