The Seletar Reservoir Dam

Posted by Simply Jean under Explore Singapore 2008, Explore Singapore!
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Tucked away in a corner of Singapore and accessible only by the know-how, the dam separating Seletar Reservoir and the Straits of Johor provides a nice scenic view of the kelongs on the straits side and the greenery of the reservoir side.

Located near the Seletar Airport, it also provides a good opportunity for plane watching as the occasional Cessna flies by. I discovered this place by accident while cycling along the neighbourhood of Yishun when I was very young. Back then, there was no proper road leading to it and one of the ways in is to cycle up a steep 3 meters slope before going down a 20 meter stretch of slope on the other side.

The most appealing thing about this dam is that it used to provide a direct link to Jalan Kayu, which is located nearer to the the northeast of Singapore. To access the latter using conventional routes, it will probably take about 45 minutes by a bicycle. However, the dam provides a direct route in just about 20 minutes. When the Tampines Expressway was built, this direct route was cut and was no longer accessible by cars. Bicycles, on the other hand, were still able to squeeze through the barriers that were erected as a result of the new expressway.

Just a few years back, when the military facilities at Seletar Camp were relocated, an exit from the back gates of Seletar Airport was opened and cars were able to pass through the airport to Jalan Kayu again; and as of my last visit, more trucks were seen rampaging through this road than any other vehicle. It seemed like they are working on some expansion within the airport, which sadly, kills the quiet appeal of the surroundings.

The dam is a popular place for meet-ups by owners of Honda Stream, Subaru and Suzuki, amongst other vehicle special interest groups. It also seemed to be a favourite place for get-togethers as groups of people can occasionally be seen laying mats on the stone covers with food and drinks aplenty. It is also a good location for star viewing as the place is free from tall buildings – giving a splendid view of the sky.

Located at just a few hundred meters away from Yishun, this place seemed to teleport the visitor into another world. With kelongs in the distant view and sampans sailing from the dam to the kelongs near the Johor Straits occasionally, it almost brings about a holiday mood to anyone who bothers to stop and sit by the stone covers.

However, development seems to be haste as a new bridge being built seems to lead nearer to the Malaysian state as roads are widened within Seletar Airport. I am not sure how this place will transform within the years to come, but before that comes, it may be a good idea to go down and take a deep breathe of the fresh sea breeze. Be mindful of the occasional pollutants from the Johor factories though!

Even in the day, the skies are blue and fluffy clouds can be seen scattered all over. To access this dam, you may either go via Yishun Avenue 1 or from Seletar Airport. When in doubt, always follow the big trucks. They seem to almost certainly bring you to this place.

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