Party-hop this New Year's Eve

Party-hop this New Year's Eve

Marina Bay will be the stage for one of the biggest countdown parties this year, with some 300,000 party revellers expected to turn up to usher in the New Year.

The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown is organised by The Esplanade and the Urban Redevelopment Authority and comprises a ticketed event as well as festive-fringe events held at locations such as the Esplanade.

The countdown will also include a special light display to mark the final 10 seconds of 2010. Rays of bright lights will converge from opposite ends of Marina Bay to form a distinct canopy of light shining over the entire area.

Details of the party were revealed yesterday at a media briefing held at Marina Bay City Gallery in Marina Boulevard.

At the stroke of midnight on Jan 1, an eight-minute-long fireworks display will take centre stage, choreographed to music specially composed by Cultural Medallion winner Iskandar Ismail.

With more vantage points such as the Marina Bay waterfront promenade and the Helix Bridge opened this year, more will be able to take in the fireworks display.

Motorists take heed: Several roads and lanes will closed at different times during the festivities. The footway along Benjamin Sheares Bridge will also be closed to pedestrians from 6pm that day until 1am on New Year's Day.

Public-transport operating hours will be extended to handle the human traffic. The frequency of MRT trains will be increased and their operating hours extended until 2am on Jan 1.

-News courtesy of Omy-