Cross Island Line Construction: CRL - A snapshot in February 2026

Overview of CRL1 stations CR2 - CR5, CR8 - CR10 & CPE station CP4 as at February 2026.
Top (L - R): Changi East Depot, CR2 - Aviation Park, CR3 - Loyang
Middle (L - R): CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR8 - Hougang
Bottom (L - R): CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 - Tavistock, CP4 - Punggol

It's been a while since we've had a Snapshot update for the Cross Island Line (CRL). Here's one from February 2026, covering several of the sites across Phase 1 and Punggol station along the Punggol Extension. How have works progressed, especially at the line's eastern end? We find out all that and more in this update after the jump.

Phase 1
Works are progressing well for the first phase of the line, with tunneling works well underway across all contracts of the project. Since our last Snapshot update, we can confirm that at least 15 out of 29 tunnel drives have been completed, representing approximately half of all the drives required for the phase. Works at several stations have also transited to excavation of the station box, with casting work to be completed concurrently as most of the stations utilise the top-down method of construction.

Tunneling chart for CRL1 as of February 2026, updated to the best of our knowledge.

Changi East Depot (Contract CR101)
In a nutshell: Works are progressing well across the site, with the various facilities visible through the site now. Huge sheds have made progress, with the roofing installed since our last visit. Works were also underway for the bridge connecting the depot to the tunnel portal leading to the future main line.

16 February 2026

CR2 – Aviation Park (Contract CR103)
In a nutshell: Excavation is underway, with struts progressively being installed within the station box as works progress downwards.

16 February 2026

CR3 - Loyang (Contract CR106)
In a nutshell: Construction works for the viaduct piers of the Loyang Viaduct are beginning to take shape even as excavation works for the station box begin. The first tunnel drive of the contract was completed in January 2026 for the eastbound tunnel.

16 February 2026

CR4 - Pasir Ris East (Contract CR107)
In a nutshell: Excavation was ongoing within the station box through the various openings. Concurrently, casting works were being carried out for the stations' various levels as excavation works progressed.

16 February 2026

CR5 | CP1 - Pasir Ris (Contract CR108)
In a nutshell: Along the main station box site installation of the traffic decking was underway. This is a necessary step ahead of full-scale excavation works commencing here. At the western cut & cover tunnel section, where the crossover box is located, excavation works had commenced. Near the existing Pasir Ris East-West Line (EWL) station, casting of the roof slab of the paid transfer linkways had been completed. The basic structure of the section at street level appeared significantly complete. Additionally, the tunnel boring machine for the contract had been launched, with the watchman station visible along Pasir Ris Drive 1.

16 February 2026

CR8 - Hougang (Contract CR112)
In a nutshell: Since the completion of tunnel boring works at the launch shaft, the acoustic shed was progressively being dismantled. Parts of the dismantled tunnel boring machines could also be seen on site - these consisted of the drive shafts and tunnel segment erectors, seen covered in blue tarpaulin. Excavation works within the station box and transfer linkway were in full swing, with all earth retaining & stablising structure (ERSS) works since completed. Excavation works were also underway along the subway connecting to Exit 6 along Hougang Central.

Near the existing Exit A of the North East Line (NEL), installation works for the new set of cooling towers were nearing completion. These would serve to replace the existing cooling towers providing air conditioning for the existing NEL station, allowing for the removal of the existing towers. In their place, a new exit connecting to the CRL station box would be built. At Exit B, half of the staircase was closed to allow for the construction of a delivery ramp to allow heavy equipment to be transferred into the NEL station. A temporary winch was installed on the ceiling of the exit to aid with delivery of the equipment.

18 February 2026

17 February 2026

16 February 2026

22 February 2026

25 February 2026

CR9 - Serangoon North (Contract CR113)
In a nutshell: The site was quite through the Lunar New Year, allowing us a chance to better observe the works and understand the goings-on. As a road diversion is to be implemented in March along the eastbound carriageway of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3/Hougang Avenue 2, traffic decking was being installed over the eastern cut & cover tunnel section. Struts could be seen installed here, before excavation and decking works commenced.

Works at the Exit 5 site were well underway, with ERSS works apparently completed and decking already installed here ahead of excavation works.

18 February 2026

CR10 - Tavistock (Contract CR115)
In a nutshell: ERSS works at the site were also completed, with demolition of the top parts of the diaphragm walls being carried out to allow for the installation of rebar that would form the capping beams. Works was progressing to allow for an upcoming road diversion of Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 in March. Elsewhere, works were preparing for the commencement of excavation through designated openings.

Tunneling was also underway for the final 2 drives of the contract - one towards Ang Mo Kio station to the west and another towards Serangoon North station to the east. Watchmen stations were visible for both drives, indicating that all tunnel boring machines had since been launched.

18 February 2026

Punggol Extension
There are exciting updates for the Punggol extension, courtesy of updates to the virtual Project Information Centre (PIC). Works at Punggol are in full swing across the various sites around and within the station.

CP4 – Punggol (Contract P105)
In a nutshell: Excavation was underway at the station's western section, outside the Waterway Point development, evidenced by the excavators on site and slightly below the roadway level. Within the station, hoarding was up for the area to be hacked underneath the existing escalators to allow for connection to the eastbound platform of the CRL.

Updates from the virtual PIC indicate the rough commencement of such works at various sites along the existing NEL platform. The northern escalator connection works commenced in Q4 2025, while similar works for the southern escalator connection are due to commence in Q1 2026. Following this, staircase connections to be located between the two existing lift shafts, will begin in Q2 2028, followed by works to the lift shafts at the southern end in Q4 2028 and the northern end in Q4 2029 respectively. Works to the lift shafts will have to be undertaken one at a time to retain lift access to the NEL platforms.