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| January 2026 - Factory Acceptance Test for contract CR203 tunnel boring machines in China. Source: LinkedIn |
June was quite a significant month for the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s tunneling works. Significant progress has been made along Phase 1 and along the Punggol Extension. We take a look at the some of the contracts where tunneling works made progress in the month of June.
Phase 1
June was quite a significant month for the Cross Island Line's phase 1, with 21 of its 29 tunnel drives reaching completion. This translates to a completion of 72.4% of total tunneling works required for the first phase of the line.
Contract CR102 - Completion of all tunnels
Tunneling works under the contract, for the tunnels between Aviation Park station, Changi East depot and Changi Airport's Terminal 5, were completed in May 2026.
Contract CR108 - Completion of westbound tunnel
Contract CR108, for the construction of Pasir Ris interchange station includes the construction of the CRL main line tunnels connecting to Pasir Ris East station. A single tunnel boring machine (TBM) is used for the construction of the two tunnel bounds. June saw the completion of the machine's first drive for the westbound tunnel, with tunneling works to commence in the later part of the year for the eastbound tunnel.
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| A view of the front drive shaft within the cutter shield. Most of the components have since been removed and extracted at the launch shaft for reassembly in a new cutter shield for drive 2. Source: LinkedIn |
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| Dismantling of the TBM cutterhead from within the TBM shield. Source: LinkedIn |
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| The cutterhead since lowered. The front shield can be seen, to be left in place. Tunnel segment rings will be installed within, encapsulated in the cutter shield. The wall ahead is the diaphragm wall of the Pasir Ris East station, which will be hacked to create an opening. Source: LinkedIn |
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| This component rotates the TBM cutterhead. It is being wheeled back to the launch shaft for removal. Source: LinkedIn |
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| Half of the cutterhead reaching the launch shaft for extraction and rehabilition before being prepared for drive 2. Source: LinkedIn |
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| The cutterhead being lifted out of the launch shaft. A new cutter shield can be seen already assembled for the eastbound tunnel drive. Source: LinkedIn |
Contract CR115 - Approximately 50 - 75% completed
Both TBM1B and 3 were advancing to the next stations from the intermediate launch shaft. TBM3 also had completed boring through the yet to be excavated Tavistock station box. TBM3 was in the vicinity of Serangoon North station based on the observation of the watchman station, while TBM1B was in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.
Both TBM1B and 3 were advancing to the next stations from the intermediate launch shaft. TBM3 also had completed boring through the yet to be excavated Tavistock station box. TBM3 was in the vicinity of Serangoon North station based on the observation of the watchman station, while TBM1B was in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.
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| 24 May 2026 - Watchman station for TBM 1B at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenues 3 and 10, near block 570. |
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| 31 May 2026 - Watchman station for TBM3 near block 101 along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. |
Contract CR116 - Approximately 50 - 70% complete
The single TBM used for the contract was being worked hard, with the third drive out of 4 ready to commence as of February 2026. Tracking of the watchman station has been a little difficult, as we have not seen the umbrella as frequently.
The single TBM used for the contract was being worked hard, with the third drive out of 4 ready to commence as of February 2026. Tracking of the watchman station has been a little difficult, as we have not seen the umbrella as frequently.
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| February 2026 - Contractors posing in front of the TBM assembled for drive 3. Source: LinkedIn |
Contract CR117 - One bound completed
Another contract that is harder to keep tabs on is the one that involves the construction of tunnels from Bright Hill to Teck Ghee station. With the tunnels for the westbound track completed in 2025, it would be safe to assume that tunneling works would have recommenced for the eastbound track. To date though, we have not seen any watchman monitoring stations. The closest clue we have is the presence of tunnel ring segments near the launch shaft that were uncovered, although this could be for a variety of reasons beyond active tunnel boring works.
Another contract that is harder to keep tabs on is the one that involves the construction of tunnels from Bright Hill to Teck Ghee station. With the tunnels for the westbound track completed in 2025, it would be safe to assume that tunneling works would have recommenced for the eastbound track. To date though, we have not seen any watchman monitoring stations. The closest clue we have is the presence of tunnel ring segments near the launch shaft that were uncovered, although this could be for a variety of reasons beyond active tunnel boring works.
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| 10 May 2026 - Launch shaft for contract CR117 with tunnel ring segments uncovered nearby. |
Punggol Extension
Progress has been made along the Punggol Extension, with works progressing from Riviera towards Punggol station in contract P103. Over at contract P102, the TBM was lowered into the launch shaft in Q1. We are uncertain if the TBM has since been launched.
Progress has been made along the Punggol Extension, with works progressing from Riviera towards Punggol station in contract P103. Over at contract P102, the TBM was lowered into the launch shaft in Q1. We are uncertain if the TBM has since been launched.
Contract P102 - TBM Sybil lowered
From the CRL Punggol Extension (CPE) Project Information Centre (PIC), we know that the TBM was lowered into the shaft in March 2026. The process towards launching takes approximately 1 month following the lowering of the machine into the shaft. At this moment, however, we are unable to verify if the machine has been launched yet.
From the CRL Punggol Extension (CPE) Project Information Centre (PIC), we know that the TBM was lowered into the shaft in March 2026. The process towards launching takes approximately 1 month following the lowering of the machine into the shaft. At this moment, however, we are unable to verify if the machine has been launched yet.
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| March 2026 - A view of the tunnel eye gasket being prepared for eventual TBM launch. Source: CPE PIC |
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| March 2026 - The front shield being lowered into the launch shaft. The TBM's name can be seen on the side - Sybil. Source: CPE PIC |
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| March 2026 - The cutterhead for TBM Sybil being lowered into the launch shaft. Source: CPE PIC |
Contract P103 - Tunnel boring commences towards Punggol
Recently, the Members of Parliament (MPs) for Punggol Group Representation Constituency paid a visit to contract P103, specifically to observe tunneling works. As part of the contract, TBM Elizabeth bored through the station box of Riviera station, before continuing for the next leg towards Punggol station where she will end her first drive. The MPs had the pleasure of pressing the button to initiate the commencement of this leg of TBM Elizabeth's journey.
Recently, the Members of Parliament (MPs) for Punggol Group Representation Constituency paid a visit to contract P103, specifically to observe tunneling works. As part of the contract, TBM Elizabeth bored through the station box of Riviera station, before continuing for the next leg towards Punggol station where she will end her first drive. The MPs had the pleasure of pressing the button to initiate the commencement of this leg of TBM Elizabeth's journey.
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| 27 June 2026 - A photo of the entourage inside the tunnel within Riviera station's box. Source: Janil Puthucheary via Facebook |
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| 29 June 2026 - The MPs being briefed by a project manager on the works being carried out. Source: Sun Xueling via Facebook |
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| 29 June 2026 - The MPs being shown the ring segment erector. Source: Sun Xueling via Facebook |
Phase 2
As of June 2026, contract CR202 for the construction of the tunnel connecting Turf City and Bright Hill stations through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) is the only contract where tunneling works were in progress. The remaining 5 contracts involving bored tunneling were still at the stage of Earth Retaining & Stablising Structure (ERSS) construction and excavation. Several groups have made industry visits to the project, with tunneling works still underway.
As of June 2026, contract CR202 for the construction of the tunnel connecting Turf City and Bright Hill stations through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) is the only contract where tunneling works were in progress. The remaining 5 contracts involving bored tunneling were still at the stage of Earth Retaining & Stablising Structure (ERSS) construction and excavation. Several groups have made industry visits to the project, with tunneling works still underway.
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