This links the eastern and western parts of Singapore to the New Downtown, currently being developed in the Marina Bay area.

The MCE, with five lanes in each direction, handles the large number of commuters to be drawn to the offices, homes and recreational attractions there.

[2] Plans to extend the KPE to join the AYE began on 9 March 2006 to relieve congestion of the East Coast Parkway, and would be called Marina Coastal Expressway.

[2] In contrast, the KPE, which is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) and has portions running under canals and rivers, cost only $1.74 billion.

There was reportedly heavier than usual traffic, compared to using the old route via ECP, on 29 December 2013, the first day the MCE opened.