Thursday, August 31, 2023

CRL1 Project Information Centre - now open!

 

29 August 2023 - Operating hours as displayed on the site office hoarding.

Recently, the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 1's Project Information Centre (PIC) has been opened to the public. Operating hours for the PIC are during weekdays during office hours. Do note that you will need to get in touch with the Public Relations Officer to secure a slot before heading down so that the PIC will be manned during your visit. Not doing so may result in disappointment should the officer be engaged and unable to open the centre for you. Nonetheless, the team paid a visit to the PIC today and are here to relay what you can find once you are there.

Thursday, August 24, 2023

CR113 - Construction of an underpass beneath Yio Chu Kang Road

 

Source: YouTube

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) released a new video on their YouTube channel today detailing the construction process for the construction of an underpass at Serangoon North station. The underpass will connect Exit 4 to the station box, crossing underneath Yio Chu Kang Road. Located at a graded junction, where Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 - Hougang Avenue 2 undercross Yio Chu Kang Road which is elevated on top, the works will also need to avoid existing utility lines that cross the intended location of the underpass. Micro tunnel boring machines (mTBMs), smaller versions of their larger cousins, will be used to construct a pipe box which will then be hollowed out to allow for the construction of the underpass' permanent structure.

Monday, August 21, 2023

CR102 - New video from LTA

 

Source: YouTube

Today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) released a new animation video detailing the works required under contract CR102. This contract involves the construction of tunnels between Aviation Park station, the Changi East Cross Island Line (CRL) depot and tracks towards the future Terminal 5 station at Changi Airport. Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) will be used to bore 5 tunnels - 2 mainline running tunnels & 3 reception tracks at a T-junction.

Image by Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co.

According to the video, ground improvement works are required before excavation and tunneling can begin. A further challenge to construction is that it will take place in close proximity to a live aviation environment which limits the height of machinery that can work in the area. However, the contract is being undertaken by Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (STEC), who also won contract T316 for works on the Thomson-East Coast Line, also within the Changi Airport area. Thus, STEC should be no stranger to the restrictions of working within a live aviation environment. We wish the contractor well as works get into full swing for the CRL tunnels.

This is a blog-only post.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

CR108 - Pasir Ris update Q2 2023

24 June 2023 - A newly expanded ticketing hall at Pasir Ris East-West Line (EWL) station.

 "Pasir Ris is one big construction site", was how Member of Parliament Mr. Teo Chee Hean described the ongoing works to build infrastructure to bring more benefits to residents of the town. When passing through Pasir Ris Central, this certainly looks to be the case. The future Pasir Ris Cross Island Line (CRL) station will become the deepest MRT station upon completion - beating out stations such as Raffles Place (the deepest station on the initial 1990's network), Bras Basah, Promenade and Bencoolen - reaching almost 50m deep. Not only is the station the deepest, but the construction site is also likely one of the longest stretching from Sungei Tampines up to the area in front of block 570 along Pasir Ris Drive 1 as there will be crossovers located within cut & cover tunnels on either side of the station. The tunnels to the east especially allow for the tunnels on the lower level connecting the line to Punggol to rise to meet the mainline CRL tunnels.

Thursday, August 3, 2023

CR115 - Tavistock update Q2 2023

 

29 June 2023 - A view of the station site looking eastwards along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.

The landscape over at contract CR115 for the construction of Tavistock station and tunnels linking to both Ang Mo Kio & Serangoon North stations has changed dramatically over the last quarter. Trees have been felled to make way for upcoming works while noise barriers have sprung up close to the landed properties and JTC block fronting Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. In addition, a petrol station at the junction with Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 has been vacated to facilitate the upcoming works.