Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded two SGD 1.25 billion (USD 923 million) civil contracts Cross Island Line extension.
A SGD 496 million (USD 365 million) contract was awarded to Woh Hup (Private) Limited for the design and construction of Punggol interchange station located along Punggol Central. Traffic and utilities diversions to facilitate the construction works will be carried out in phases to minimise inconvenience to residents and motorists. The works will also include addition and alteration works to the existing NEL Punggol station to allow seamless transfer and enhance connectivity between NEL, LRT and the new station on the Cross Island Line – Punggol Extension (CPe).
The 7.3-km CPe will comprise four stations, namely Punggol, Riviera, Elias, and Pasir Ris. Three of the stations will serve as interchanges with other lines. Pasir Ris will link to the East-West Line, while Punggol will link to the North-East Line and Riviera will connect to the existing station of the same name on the Punggol LRT line. This will provide better rail connectivity and greater accessibility for those living in eastern areas such as Pasir Ris and Tampines North as well as north-eastern areas such as Punggol and Sengkang. More than 40,000 households are expected to benefit from the CPe.
The second contract with a value of SGD 758 million (USD 558 million) was awarded to the joint venture of Obayashi Corporation and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (Singapore) for the design and construction of a 5 km bored tunnel between Fairways Drive and Sin Ming Walk. A large-diameter slurry Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), measuring about 12 metres in diameter will be used to construct the single two-track tunnel. A 2-km stretch of the bored tunnel alignment will under cross the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, where the tunnel will be constructed up to an approximate depth of 70 metres below ground level, deeper than the usual 20-30 metres.
LTA had earlier carried out a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and will implement all the necessary mitigation measures outlined in the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan. LTA and the contractor will also continue to engage various stakeholders including the nature groups during the construction works.
Obayashi Corporation was previously involved in Dhoby Ghaut station along the NEL, while Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (Singapore) is currently involved in the construction of Katong Park and Bayshore stations along TEL and previously completed the construction of TEL Shenton Way station.
Cross Island Line extension will serve the existing and future developments in the eastern, north-eastern and western corridors, linking major hubs such as Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District and Changi region. The CRL will have almost half of its stations as interchanges with other rail lines, making it easier and more convenient for commuters to travel across the rail network
The CRL which will be the 8th MRT line in Singapore, will be constructed in three phases. Announced in 2019, CRL Phase 1 is 29 km long, and comprises 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill. As of March this year, all the civil contracts for CRL Phase 1 had been awarded. Construction works have commenced and are expected to complete by 2030. CRL Phase 2, announced in September 2022, is approximately 15 km and comprises 6 underground stations. Engineering studies for the CRL Phase 3 are ongoing and more details will be announced after these studies are completed.
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