Beyond the upcoming road diversion mentioned in our post on the contract CR115 roadshow, several other Cross Island Line (CRL) contracts will be implementing similar diversions at their respective project sites. These changes to the road networks are scheduled to take place between mid & late August. The details after the jump.
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| 28 February 2025 - A view of the NEL station atrium amidst modification works. |
As we approach the end of February, works at Hougang's North East Line (NEL) station are beginning to ramp up as it prepares for additional footfall when the Cross Island Line (CRL) connects here. Part of the initial works will see a temporary platform lift being installed to connect the platform and concourse levels. The markings for hoarding along this installation were previously laid out approximately a month ago.
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| 31 January 2025 - An aerial view of the Hougang station site. |
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| 31 January 2025 - An aerial view of the tunneling launch shaft at the northern end of the project. |
It has been some time since we caught up and provided more detailed updates on the construction of some Cross Island Line (CRL) stations. We'll start off with some updates on Hougang, seeing how there has been an increase in activity over the past 2 months with the assembly and subsequent launching of the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) at the station site. More details after the jump!
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| Contract CR102 TBMs during the assembly phase at the launch shaft. Source: STEC |
A happy new year to all our readers & followers! Recently, we have come across a few new images of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 1. Coupled with recent deliveries to sites at Hougang, Ang Mo Kio and Defu, its definitely TBM season for the CRL. What better way to begin the new year than by taking a look at all the machines responsible for building the tunnels for the upcoming CRL1? More of them after the jump.
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| 13 December 2024 - The TBM tail shield during lifting operations. |
Contract CR112 has made some headway since the arrival of the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) at the site. Two TBMs will be used to bore the twin tube tunnels towards Serangoon North station. After a public name voting process, the TBMs are to be named Artemis & Valkyrie. Parts of the first TBM were lowered into the launch shaft on 7 December 2024 and the tail shield was lifted in on 13 December 2024.
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| A render of the Jurong Lake District station being built under contract CR211. Source: LTA |
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| 20 September 2024 - The launching ceremony for tunneling under contract CR115. Source: LinkedIn |
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| Tunnel boring machines for contract CR112. Source: Forms.sg |
We have a quick update on some developments along the Cross Island Line (CRL) to share: The launch of contract CR211's Telegram channel & TBM #1 for contract CR115 and confirmed names of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for contract CR112. More information after the jump.
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| 30 June 2024 - An overview of the station box as of end-Q2. |
Contract CR112 was one of the first station contracts awarded for the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s first phase back in 2020. Since then, the contract has come a long way along but, as of Q2, had yet to commence tunneling work. This is despite the fact that a gantry crane being installed near the contract's launch shaft since January this year. Nonetheless, Q2 marked a significant milestone for the contract with the completion of phase 1 diaphragm wall works. This milestone also saw the excavation of portions of the station box commence.
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| 14 March 2024 - An aerial view of the contract CR112 worksite for Hougang station as at end-Q1. |
Contract CR112 was one of the first civil contracts awarded for the Cross Island Line's (CRL) phase 1. The work site for the station is at various stages across different sites at the station box and exits. Exciting progress made over the past quarter has seen the commencement of excavation works at the main station box site and the waterproofing of parts of the subway connecting station exit 6. More pictures and information after the jump.
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| 21 September 2023 - A view of the station box site next to the existing Hougang Central bus interchange. |
Q3 is when things started to get interesting over at Hougang station. The top slab of the tunnel boring machines' (TBMs) launch shaft was cast and excavation works commenced. King posts were being installed at the northern end of the station while diaphragm wall works continued at the south. Over at the west, works began to create the capping beam for an exit. Overall, progress is looking good and the rest of the Cross Island Line (CRL) stations will have to follow suit to catch up.
But first, before we dive into the detailed updates of the various sites, here are some landscape images of the site for your viewing pleasure. These are taken at street level and show the heavy machinery in all their glory.
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| 2 June 2023 - Excavation at the northern end of the site with completed diaphragm walls. |
Contract CR112 was one of the first civil contracts awarded for the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 1. As such, it is also one of the first contracts to have commenced excavation works with a portion at the northern end of the station site having soil removed within an area where diaphragm wall works have completed. Join us as we bring to you an update on work progress as of the second quarter of 2023 at Hougang station.
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| 19 March 2023 - A view southwards from across Hougang Avenue 10. |
It's been a while since we've had an update on the Cross Island Line (CRL), so we're at Hougang this week to kick things off. Work at the northern half (the closed section of Hougang Central Minor) is more advanced than that at the southern half (near existing Exit A, next to the bus interchange) of the site.
Yesterday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) released a video showing a flythrough of the upcoming Tampines North station along the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 1. LTA has been noticeably more active in uploading videos of & marketing the CRL across its social media channels. In addition to the new video on Tampines North, they also uploaded another video on the Rectangular Tunnel Boring Machine (RTBM) being used at the Teck Ghee station under contract N109A to construct subways to two exits located within Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park.
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| 5 December 2022 - A view of the contract's southern site next to the bus interchange. |
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| 5 December 2022 - Another aerial view of the contract's southern site. |
It's been a while since we stopped by Hougang to check on progress. Things are going well and the station is one of the quickest in terms of progress. Diaphragm walling works are well underway with 2 machines on site making rounds excavating the panels to form a contiguous wall around the perimeter of the excavation site. We understand that works are focused on the northern site in particular as a launch shaft may be located there to facilitate tunneling works towards Serangoon North station.
The Land Transport Authority this morning released a new video flythrough of Hougang interchange station. The overview shows how the new Cross Island Line (CRL) station will connect with the existing North East Line (NEL) station through a new paid transfer link as well as new exits, including a co-located exit at the current exit A.
Kindly note that this post is extremely image-heavy.
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| 14 September 2022 - A view of the closed section of Hougang Central as seen from Hougang Avenue 10. A more permanent pavement has been constructed. |
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| 31 August 2022 - A view of the closed section of Hougang Central as seen from Hougang Avenue 10. |
On the 28th August, a portion of Hougang Central was closed to facilitate the construction of the Hougang interchange station. It has been about 2 weeks since the road's closure. Today, we take a look at the changes implemented and progress at this particular area of the site.
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| 19 August 2022 - The hydrofraise machine in position & in action excavating the diaphragm wall trench. |
This past week, excavation works commenced at Hougang station as part of works to install diaphragm walls (d-walls) to support station construction works. As part of the works, the hydrofraise machine is used to lower down the vertical cutters which rotate to remove soil. The excavated area is prevented from collapsing through the use of betonite slurry, a dense liquid that is pumped in by the machine from storage reservoirs. Do check out the videos which explain the process.
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| 28 July 2022 - The hydrofraise machine boom lifted into vertical position. This machine will be used to dig trenches for the construction of diaphragm walls to enable excavation of the station box. |
Things are starting to get busy at Hougang Cross Island Line (CRL) station site. Today, the hydrofraise machine was lifted into vertical position, marking a step closer to the construction of diaphragm walls for the station. It also means that we are a step closer to the eventual closure of Hougang Central (Minor). This is a stretch of road linking Hougang Central (Major) and Hougang Avenue 10, roughly parallel to the upcoming station. In view of this, there will be amendments to bus services that use Hougang Central (Minor) as detailed by operator SBS Transit today.
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| 4 November 2021 - Northern site |
Contract CR112 for the construction of Hougang interchange was one of the first awarded contracts on the Cross Island Line (CRL). Successful bidder Samsung C&T won the contract and has been busy preparing the site for eventual construction.
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| 04 November 2021 - Cross Island Line logo |
Contract CR112 was the first civil contract for the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 1 to be awarded. Since the contract award, work has commenced at the station site with contract Samsung C&T beginning to set up the site office at the junction of Upper Serangoon Road and Hougang Central, just next to the Midtown Mall & Residences.
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| 30 April 2019 - An aerial view of Hougang Central with the Northeast Line station exits A, B and C visible. Exit C is the exit in the midground, located in the empty field which will transform into a mixed used development in the future. An integrated transport hub will likely be housed here. |
