CR111 - Defu update Q2 2023

 

15 June 2023 - An aerial view of preparations for road diversions along Tampines Road.

Contract CR111 for the construction of Defu station and associated tunnels was won by the joint venture of Gamuda & Wai Fong. The contract will involve the completion of the Defu station located underneath Tampines Road and twin bored tunnels to Hougang station, the next stop westwards. As contract CR111 was one of the later awarded contracts for the Cross Island Line (CRL), works have been focused on site preparation till recently.

Circular to stakeholders on closure of Defu Avenue 2.
Page 1 of 2.
Source: LTA & Contractor

Circular to stakeholders on closure of Defu Avenue 2.
Page 2 of 2.
Source: LTA & Contractor

Circular to stakeholders on upcoming traffic diversions & bus stop
relocation.
Source: LTA & Contractor

Upcoming Road Diversion
Following approximately a half year of preparatory work on site, the contractor announced a series of road works to facilitate an upcoming long-term road diversion of Tampines Road. Currently, the two carriageways of the road are located side by side. With the road diversion however, both bounds are being separated by a worksite located in the road median. According to an earlier released video summarising the works, this will help to facilitate the construction of earth retaining & stabilising system (ERSS) structures along the southern side of the station.

Enabling works will be conducted along Defu Avenue 2, necessitating the closure of the said roadway over 2 days. This will take place on 20th & 21st June 2023. Following this, works to shift the existing carriageways onto the new diversion roads will commence on 24th June 2023 for implementation by 25th June 2023. This work involves the relocation of 2 bus stops in the affected zones as well.

15 June 2023 - A view of the eastbound carriageway of Tampines Road prior to the road diversion.

15 June 2023 - The existing eastbound bus stop which will be relocated on 24/25 June 2023.

15 June 2023 - Machinery on site to pave the road diversion carriageways.

15 June 2023

15 June 2023 - The diverted portion of roadway will rejoin around this location.

15 June 2023 - A view of the relocated, temporary bus stop on the eastbound carriageway.

15 June 2023 - Betonite silos already stand within the new work site that will exist in the road
median once the diversion is completed.

Eastbound carriageway
Work on the eastbound carriageway is being done with the construction involving the building of a new roadway to replace the current eastbound lanes of Tampines Road, a new temporary bus shelter as well as replacement pedestrian pathways. Part of the diverted road will also cross Serangoon River Road. At the time of taking the pictures, there was another 10 days till the diversion was to take place, thus works should be completed in time although there was still a bit to be done.

15 June 2023 - Eventually, the canal will be widened and the existing bridge across reconstructed.

15 June 2023 - Bored piles can be seen on the eastern bank of the canal.

15 June 2023 - Work is also ongoing on the western bank of the canal.

15 June 2023 - The junction with Defu Avenue 2, to be closed on 20th & 21st June for road works.

15 June 2023 - Lots of new paving already put in place ahead of the road diversion.

15 June 2023 - The new roadway being constructed for the road diversion.

15 June 2023 - Machinery on site.

15 June 2023 - New lamp posts have been installed along the diverted roadway.

15 June 2023 - A view of the existing westbound bus stop which will be relocated.

15 June 2023 - Utility diversion works.

15 June 2023 - Towards the western end, the road begins to rejoin the existing carriageway.

15 June 2023 - A view of the new temporary westbound bus stop.

15 June 2023 - End of the road diversion works at the west.

15 June 2023 - An aerial view of the road diversion works where the westbound carriageway
rejoins the existing roadway.

15 June 2023 - Another view of the relocated westbound bus stop.

15 June 2023 - A view of Tampines Road further east.

Westbound carriage
Works on the westbound carriageway seem to be at a more advanced stage than those of the eastbound carriageway. Perhaps the contractor thought that since this particular diversion was lengthier than the eastbound counterpart, more time was required for the extra distance. Nonetheless, the new diverted roadway has been paved for most part and only certain portions, such as near the junction with Defu Avenue 2 and at the eastern end require paving works to be completed.

Overall the upcoming road diversions represent a major step forward for the construction of the station and are coming even earlier than at some other contracts that had been awarded earlier. We look forward to the completion of the road diversions so that work can begin on the actual station construction. Elsewhere in Hougang, soil investigation works are being carried out ahead of tunneling work which should commence in approximately 1.5 to 2 years' time. Would you like us to feature some tunneling charts for you to have a better understanding of how tunneling is likely to proceed? Do let us know in the comments - we'd like to hear from you.

This post will also be available on Instagram & Facebook on 21 June 2023.