Cross Island Line Construction: CRL - A snapshot in August 2025

Overview of CRL1 stations CR3 - CR10 as at August 2025.
Top (L - R): CR3 - Loyang, CR4 - Pasir Ris East
Middle (L - R): CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR8 - Hougang
Bottom (L - R): CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 – Tavistock

Overview of CRL1 station CR11 & CRL2 stations CR17 - CR19 as at August 2025.
Top (L - R): CR11 – Ang Mo Kio, CR207 - Launch shaft
Middle (L - R): CR17 - Clementi, CR18 - West Coast
Bottom (L - R): CR210 - Launch shaft, CR19 - Jurong Lake District

Roughly about three-quarters into the year, how has progress been along the Cross Island Line? We take a closer look at some of the key sites along the line in both phases 1 and 2 in this August look-back.

Phase 1
Work along this phase of the line is slowly transitioning from construction of the earth retaining & stabilising systems (ERSS) to excavation works for the station boxes. ERSS works, however, still continue for stations with tighter confines or more complicated.

CR3 - Loyang (Contract CR106)
In a nutshell: Excavation works have commenced at the station site, with the roof slab likely to be cast once the suitable level has been reached. The top-down method of construction is being employed at the site, which would make use of the slabs to support the retaining walls in place of struts. Rebar for the roof slab could be seen at the northern part of the station box, ahead of casting works. Further north, the Loyang Viaduct piers have come up along Loyang Avenue, with parts of the viaduct spans already constructed. Tunnel boring works had also advanced, with the watchman station shifting near block 273.

30 August 2025

CR4 - Pasir Ris East (Contract CR107)
In a nutshell: Construction of the diaphragm walls between the junctions of Pasir Ris Drive 1 with Street 11/Drive 2 and Street 12/Drive 4 have reached 98% completion. Opposite the Pasir Ris East Community Club, a road diversion had been put in place as works for the construction of diaphragm walls for the station exit here were to commence shortly. It is expected that these works would complete by Q2 2026.

30 August 2025

CR5 | CP1 - Pasir Ris (Contract CR108)
In a nutshell: With Pasir Ris' CRL station being among the deepest to be constructed and the construction site spanning approximately 1km, lots of works were in progress. At the eastern end, works were ramping up ahead of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) assembly, with the machine to be launched towards Pasir Ris East some time in Q4 2025. Next to the existing East-West Line (EWL) station, casting works for the transfer links connecting to the EWL station's concourse level were underway. The escalator pit was clearly visible at this location. Additionally, recent road diversions were implemented at the junction of Pasir Ris Drive 1 with Drive 8 to facilitate additional works. Road decking was also being installed at the tunnel site in between Coco Palms condominium and block 570.

30 August 2025

CR8 - Hougang (Contract CR112)
In a nutshell: Road diversions were also implemented at Hougang station site to facilitate additional works that would connect the new CRL station with the existing North East Line (NEL) station. This involved the relocation of a pair of existing bus stops and the adjustment to the positions of the arrival berths within Hougang bus interchange. Excavation works within the phase 3 diaphragm wall construction area had also commenced. Within the NEL station, modification works for the existing lift shaft continued. Additional falsework was added onto the metal bracing that had been installed around the lift shaft to facilitate cladding removal works.

9 August 2025

23 August 2025

30 August 2025

CR9 - Serangoon North (Contract CR113)
In a nutshell: Diaphragm wall works continued over at the station site, albeit with focus shifting towards the northern edge of the station. These works are likely to continue well into 2026 before excavation within the box can commence.

31 August 2025

CR10 - Tavistock (Contract CR115)
In a nutshell: Similar to Serangoon North station, works continued on diaphragm wall construction. At this site, however, works were focused on the southern edge of the station. At certain parts of the station box, casting for a slab could be seen, potentially to be used as a work surface once excavation works commence. This slab is unlikely to be part of the future station's roof slab as it is located at a relatively shallow depth which would be insufficient to route future utility lines above. Tunneling works have advanced for TBM2, as evidenced from the relocation of the watchman station from in front of Tavistock Park to outside the French International School. The watchman station for TBM3 was also observed in the median of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, just to the west of the Central Expressway flyover.

31 August 2025

CR11 - Ang Mo Kio (Contract CR116)
In a nutshell: Work has commenced in earnest for Exits 7 and 11 of the station, along with the section of cut and cover tunnel at the eastern end. A structure next to the existing North-South Line (NSL) station has also come up, which will feature part of the mobility deck and garden above. At the lower level it would likely be the location of the future Exit 1.

31 August 2025

Phase 2
Works along Phase 2 have also begun ramping up, with ERSS construction commencing at several more sites along the section of line.

Tunnels between Maju & Clementi stations (Contract CR207)
In a nutshell: Heavy machinery was seen on site where the launch shaft would be constructed. This consists of several crawler cranes and hydrofraise machines. Circulars observed at the nearby residential blocks indicated that diaphragm wall works would commence soon.

31 August 2025

CR17 – Clementi (Contract CR208)
In a nutshell: Diaphragm wall works were well underway at various pockets throughout the station site. Works at Exit 7 in particular were advancing quickly, likely to facilitate a future road diversion of Clementi Avenues 4 and 5 to allow work on the bulk of the station box underneath Avenue 4 to proceed. Site preparation works were also underway at Exit A ahead of exit modification and reconstruction.

31 August 2025

CR18 – West Coast (Contract CR209)
In a nutshell: Likewise at West Coast station, diaphragm wall construction works were in progress over two sites. One located closer to the Jamiyah Nursing Home would likely be for the launch shaft to facilitate tunneling works towards Clementi station. The rest of the works were concentrated on the main station box.

31 August 2025

Tunnels between West Coast & Jurong Lake District stations (Contract CR210)
In a nutshell: Works were also in progress for the diaphragm walls that would form the launch shaft for this contract next to the Jurong Lake District station and cut & cover tunnel site. TBMs launched from here would tunnel towards the West Coast station. Rebar cages could be seen being lowered into the excavated trench, indicating that works for that particular panel had reached the intended design level.

30 August 2025

CR19 – Jurong Lake District (Contract CR211)
In a nutshell: Site clearing was still underway for the station, with parts of the former perimeter retaining wall that ran parallel to the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) being cut to suit the needs of the construction site. Construction of the foundations for the 12m high noise barriers were also underway.