Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded two civil contracts for the design and construction of Cross Island Line Phase 1 (CRL1) stations and tunnels, at a combined value of S$861 million.
The first contract, totalling S$454 million, was awarded to Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure Pte Ltd for the design and construction of Serangoon North station and tunnels. The second contract was awarded to Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd, totalling S$407 million, for the design and construction of Tavistock station and tunnels.
Construction works for both Serangoon North and Tavistock stations are expected to start in the second quarter of this year, with passenger service for CRL1 slated to commence in 2030.
Construction highlights
The Serangoon North station is located under the busy dual lanes of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and the Yio Chu Kang Road vehicular bridge. The station is wider than usual as there will be three railway tracks instead of two, with the additional track being used to facilitate the withdrawal or parking of trains, explained LTA. Traffic diversions will be implemented at various stages of the construction to provide the required working space for the station construction works.
The underpass connection will be constructed by mining beneath the Yio Chu Kang Road vehicular bridge, instead of the typical cut-and-cover method, according to LTA. This mining method will allow the construction of the underpass connection to be carried out without affecting the Yio Chu Kang Road vehicular bridge, thus minimising the inconvenience to motorists. LTA and the contractor will closely monitor the works to ensure they are performed safely with minimal impact to nearby stakeholders and existing structures.
The Tavistock station is located along the busy roads of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and surrounded by residential and commercial properties. LTA said to overcome space constraints, the intermediate launch shaft for the deployment of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will be built a distance away from the construction site. Tunnelling works will proceed west towards CRL Ang Mo Kio station as well as east towards the next station at Serangoon North, passing through Tavistock station.
LTA further highlighted that the ground at Tavistock station is made up of Old Alluvium, a predominantly soil-like material comprising sandy and silty clay. This abrasive ground condition is expected to cause some wear to the cutting equipment on the TBMs. LTA and the contractor will pay close attention to the tunnelling equipment and overall works, to ensure they are carried out in a safe and timely manner with minimal impact to existing structures.
Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure has extensive experience in infrastructure and building projects in Singapore. The company constructed the Kim Chuan Depot and Marina Bay station for the Circle Line, and is currently involved in the construction of Maxwell station along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).
Sato Kogyo has also undertaken infrastructure, building and tunnelling projects in Singapore. The company constructed Bencoolen and Mattar stations on the Downtown Line, as well as Upper Thomson station along TEL.
The CRL is Singapore’s eighth MRT line. It will serve 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.
CRL1 is 29 km long and comprises 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill. This will serve residential and industrial areas in Loyang, Tampines, Pasir Ris, Defu, Hougang, Serangoon North and Ang Mo Kio and benefit more than 100,000 households. With CRL1, common recreational spaces such as Changi Beach Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park will be more accessible by public transport.
Images: LTA
